Transplanting aloe vera is a great way to maintain a healthy plant. Especially those plants that are top heavy, are leaning over, and have several pups. They are great candidates for re-potting.
Though they may be one of the easiest houseplants to grow, repotting aloe vera is sometimes a necessary task.
I had a couple of aloe vera plants on my windowsill in the kitchen. After all, what's better than aloe vera gel for its healing properties in treating an oven burn? The light is not the brightest here, but the plants continued to grow and thrive. However, as you can see if you look closely, the current pot is super top heavy with leaves leaning over the rim of the pot.
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Repotting Aloe Vera Plants
Start by removing the entire plant from the pot. Just look at how long the base is.
Cut off a good bit of the base with a clean knife, leaving only 1-2 inches. Let the cut form a callus for a few days. Like all succulents, it is best to let the cutting dry out to avoid rot.
Then re-pot the main plant along with any little aloe pups or offsets into a heavy shallow terra-cotta pot with a drainage hole.
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Note: Do not water the transplants. Wait a week to water the new pot. This will help prevent transplant shock and give the roots a chance to get established. Even though some people may call this the cockroach of plants, too much moisture or water is one thing that will surely kill it.
Aloe Vera Plant Care
Aloe Vera Soil
Make sure you use a lightweight well-draining soil mix. Add perlite
if needed to your regular potting soil. You can also buy potting soil made for cacti and succulents, since aloes are succulent plants. However, I find that even the specialized potting mix can benefit from a little extra drainage so I add perlite.
Watering Aloe Vera
When you do water the aloe transplant make sure to water it thoroughly, allowing water to come through the bottom of the pot. I often do this at the sink and then let it sit there to drain any excess water. Typically aloe's water schedule is about once or twice a month. It's better to keep it on the dry side. When in doubt, don't water. Overwatering often results in root rot.
Aloe Vera Lighting
This new pot is now in the dining room under supplemental grow lights. Obviously, it's too big for a kitchen windowsill, and it may enjoy the extra light. You still want to shoot for indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause the plant to burn and it will turn a light pale color.
However, I did leave one small pot of aloe in the kitchen for emergency burns. When it gets too big for the pot, I'll transplant it too.
Here's an updated picture of my repotted aloe a year later. It has now grown many new aloe plants and looks so much happier.
More Houseplant Care Ideas
Transplanting Aloe Vera When It's Way Out of Control
Equipment
- Gardening tool
- Sharp clean paring knife
Materials
- Clay pot
- Perlite
- Potting Soil for cacti and succulents
Instructions
- Cut off a good bit of the base or mother plant with a sharp knife.
- Let the wound form a callus on the stem for a few days.
- Re-pot along with any little aloe vera pups or off shoots into a heavy shallow terra cotta pot.
- Use a lightweight soil mix that drains quickly.
- Add perlite if needed to your potting mix, or use a cactus mix used for cacti and succulents.
- Do not water right away. Give the plant(s) several days to adjust before watering.
Bonnie Carpenter
Yikes, I have a planting wizard neighbor. my Aloe stayed out in a torrential downpour and was over soaked even though it was in a a pot that drained. I repoted it and left it to dry out for weeks (without cutting the base). The ends browned and got hard. My Neighbor visited, saw this, and immediately reported it. It was watered well. I am leaving for a 4 week vacation and assume I should leave it in partial sun. Any advice from your expertise? I certain appreciate it.
Patti Estep
Bonnie, you might want to put it in a protected area in case you get more rain while you're gone. It's likely to do better without water than too much water.
Vicky
This is very helpful! I have the same problem with my aloe vera.
Is it ok to transplant it in the winter or should I wait for April? I live in Germany and there isn't much sunlight available at the moment.
Patti Estep
Vicky, it shouldn't be a problem to transplant it now. However, you may want to find a better spot or add supplemental lighting. Otherwise, you may find yourself with the same problem in the future.
Phyllis
Thank you for your info. I have a very large aloe that I'm putting in a larger, heavier pot. I'm like you with plants in the kitchen and I'm repotting the ones that lean.
Patti Estep
Phyllis, I think you will be happy with transplanting the aloe.
Joan
I have a monster aloe plant and have just repotted the babies and have 2 giant pieces I am letting sit out for a few days before I repot. They were growing sideways and unbelievably huge. I live in Colorado and keep in a window that gets afternoon sun. Just wanted to comment that it blooms every year. Didn’t see any other comments about flowering but bloom is a tall spike with small pinkish white flowers up and down both sides of the spine. Quite Interesting and lasts for weeks. Can you get pups from doing anything with the flowers? Normally it just dries up and blooms fall off but it’s very neat to have it bloom! Thanks for your great info on repotting!
Patti Estep
Joan, how wonderful to get flowers from your Aloe. Unfortunately, I have not been so lucky. I would guess you may be about to collect seeds from the flowers and try to grow a plant that way but I really don't know.
Gabi
Glad I found this because my plant is definitely growing out like yours in the picture you showed. My question is that when I cut and re-pot, will it start growing back straight up or is there something I can do to make it grow straight up?
Patti Estep
Gabi, I found that repotting in a wider more shallow pot and giving it more light has allowed this aloe to grow straight, multiply and thrive.
Marbella
Hello Patti, I hope this message finds you and your family safe -- reaching out to ask about an aloe of mine that is also stretched out. It was not well taken care of then soaked for a while, before it was given to me almost a year ago. It was stretched when i got it, and more confusing to me, growing in a fan shape or like a triton-- leaves / new growth growing on either side of itself, as opposed to a more rounded out shape that it normally would take, like rose petals on a rose. I nursed it to health (got rid of root rot, and repotted in cactus soil) and keep it in a good amount of indirect light. It's still stretched out at least 5 inches from the soil of the pot, but more concerning, growing in that side to side shape. As it has grown, inevitably the bottom 2 leaves (1 on either side) end up dying. From your article I think the cutting and repotting could help with the stretching, however I have been hesitant that my problem will persist considering that the direction of the new growth (growing on either side of itself) might be what is making the plant leaves grow "up and stacked" as opposed to "out and around." Have you ever encountered anything like this before and do you have any tips? Your article has been the most helpful from my search these past few months and I would appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you!
Patti Estep
Marbella, no I haven't encountered this growing habit that you are describing. The only thing that comes to mind is, could you perhaps have a unique variety of aloe where that growth in normal?? I would still suggest cutting it and repotting the stretch stem if you want. I don't think it would hurt and may help. Let me know how it turns out.
Kay
The plants I have grow in a fan shape when they're young and turn into the round one when they mature.
Patti Estep
That's interesting Kay!
Theresa
T he stacking up on itself is what my sansavera plant has done. Used to be normal then instead of nice long leaves, they are growing inside of each other. Do I toss it and buy new?
Patti Estep
Theresa, I have never notice that type of behavior. However, I wouldn't throw it out. You can take cuttings or try dividing the entire pot into a few new plants to see if that helps the Sansaveria grow in a more pleasing manner. Also, I would say that this is probably a good time to do it, spring or early summer.
Kelly
Hello Patti,
I have an old aloe plant that will soon be going through your prescribed method of transplanting due to its long bare stem. My question is, will new shoots grow out from the remaining stem with old roots after the top is cut off? Is it worth saving?
Thank you!
Patti Estep
Kelly, that's a good question. I'm not sure but my guess is it would and may be worth experimenting. Let me know how it turns out if you try it.
A. Robertson
Hi:
I have an aloe vera plant that I have had for many years; I call it the mama plant. But over the years parts of it have fallen over the sides of the pot and parts have grown in all different directions. At some point, when the new “leaves” grew out from between the “leaves” below (I don't know the correct terms) the new leaves turned right and that part of plant continued to grow at a 90 degree angle to the plant below, and later a newer part decided to turn in another direction.
My question is: can I cut the plant at the point where it turns (I assume there will be the equivalent of a stem) and then follow your instructions?
Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated
Amanda
Patti Estep
A., it's hard to tell without seeing the plant but I suspect that you can cut the plant as it turns. Make sure you use a clean knife. Leave a bit of a stem (1-2 inches) for planting. Let the cut heal a few days before repotting and hold back on the watering for a few days too.
Pat
Hi been searching and finally found your site I have this aloe plant from a cutting my sister gave me a long time ago its in a medium size clay pot and leaves etc ate beautiful but problem is it has a very long woody stem want to repot it but not sure how as don't know if you should cut the woody stem as real long but leaves etc are good and also has new shoots cing out at top not pups could you tell me how to repot or if I should cut whole stem hope to hear from you soon also if you could email me thanks pat
Patti Estep
Sounds similar to my plant. I would do exactly as I mentioned in the post. Leave about 2 inches of the stem connected to the leaves and cut the rest off. Let the cut end of the stem harden off and form a callus for a few days before repotting and don't water it after potting for a few days. Then water well letting all excess water drain away. It worked wonders for my plant. Also, a shallow pot was a big help in repotting the aloe.
Patt
Patti forgot to ask you as you just emailed me the other day but before I try cutting it what should I use as its so thick the wody stem thanks
Patti Estep
Patt, I would use a clean sharp knife to cut stem.
Mandy
Huh, you call that out of control? The aloe plant on our west facing front porch looks like something from a low budget horror movie. I've been trying for months to muster up the courage to do battle with it. Maybe now that the weather is better ......
Patti Estep
They can really get rangy huh? They are also pretty hardy so give it a try. I need to post an update of mine. It's doing really well in its new pot and spot.
Monica
I have a few aloe vera plants that are doing wonderful. I had a few that had the pups on them some of them died and others did really well. I just don't understand how I was able to do well with some and not others. Also a concern of mine is that one of aloe vera plants have almost like clear spots (the green is completely gone) but its green at the steam and then my older ones have like this brown spots on them. What's going on? Right now since I live in NC they're in the house on my counter they receive natural and artificial light there.
Patti Estep
Monica, I'm not totally sure but I suspect it's an overwatering issue. If you can take the plant out, see if there is root rot. Are the roots mushy and breaking off easily. If so, re-pot with fresh well-draining soil but do not water it for a few days. When you do water make sure all the water drains out and the plant does not sit in water. See if this helps.
Tiffany
What type of Aloe Vera is being shown in the pictures, I have the same one and I don't know it's actual name.
Patti Estep
Tiffany, I believe it's Aloe Vera. There are many types of Aloe plants but I believe this is Aloe Barbadensis.
Bonnie
So do you cut the roots right off? I have one that's leaning quite badly as well.
Patti Estep
Bonnie, yes I cut the top of the aloe along the stem above the roots and let it set out and callous for a few days before replanting.
Michael Klainos
Do Alia Vera plants like cold climates? I live in Wisconsin.
Patti Estep
Michael, Aloe is a tropical plant so most grow it as a houseplant unless you live in the deep south. It can get pretty cold here in Pennsylvania so I keep mine as a houseplant. Even in Wisconsin, I believe as long as you keep it indoors it should be fine.
Carole
Great information and very helpful. I read that aloe vera is also really good for Poison Ivy. I haven't come in contact since the last one I shared but I'm tempted to get a plant of aloe just i in case. It's so pretty and I love that shade of green.
Patti Estep
Hi Carole,
At one time my sister and I used to drink aloe vera juice. I can't really say it did that much for us, but it is known for many useful qualities. I'm sure it would help the wounds from your poison to heal. It is pretty, and easy to grow, so go for it!
Audrey Cahill
Patti, I have a very prickly cactus that is in great need of needing to be transplanted into a larger pot. I'm at a loss as to how I should do this. I'm not even sure what type of cactus it is.
Patti Estep
Hi Audrey,
I'd work on identifying it first if you can. It could be an aloe as there are many different varieties. One great site that has a very friendly community is davesgarden.com. They have members who will help identify your cactus and many may already be growing it. The only advice I can give is to make sure you use a good sandy-like fast draining soil mix when you transfer the plant. Hope that helps.
Patb
To transplant your cactus, try wrapping newspaper around it for easier handling.
...and who cares what it is...lots of light and little water...