Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) is prized both for its exotic beauty and for its usefulness. The sap inside of the plump, spiky shoots is an effective salve for minor cuts and burns, but a plant that is struggling to survive in a too-small pot will produce spindly, weak leaves with very little gel. Separating the new shoots from the main plant and repotting them is the best way to make sure your aloe continues to thrive. How to repot an aloe vera plant indoors?
Aloe vera is a succulent plant, it stores reserves of water in its long fleshy leaves, and is adapted to survive through extended droughts. It can go a long time without water, and through the colder, darker months of the year, you can almost forget about it.
How to repot a aloe vera plant
When to repot aloe vera plant indoors
One of the many things that make aloes such good houseplants is that they tend to like a little overcrowding. If your plant is getting big for its container, moving it isn’t urgent. However, repotting aloe vera it up is a good idea.
If your main aloe plant is starting to look leggy and droopy and is surrounded by smaller pups, it’s definitely time to transplant.
your Aloe plant will begin to make or may already have small offsets, pups or baby plants that start to pop up around the base of the main plant. Once these have reached 7 or 8cm tall, you can carefully remove them.
How to repot a aloe vera plant
Things You Will Need
- Gardening gloves (optional)
- Trowel
- Knife, sharp and sterilized
- Potting soil
- Garden sand, pumice or perlite
- Plant pot
Repotting Aloe Vera Pups
The baby plants will need their own homes now and a chance to grow a full root system.
Each baby plant will need its own pot sized about 4″ in diameter.
Plant them in free-draining compost – either a cactus/succulent compost or mix 1 part Perlite with 2 parts peat-free compost
Gently tuck each plant into its new home and firm down the compost around it. Plant it no deeper than it was growing out of the ground at before.
Wait three days before you water them. After then, water the plants only once the compost dries up.
Aloe vera is considered a medicinal plant, a skincare plant, and an edible houseplant
How to repot a aloe vera plant
How to Care for an Aloe Vera Plant indoors
Lighting: Place in bright, indirect sunlight or artificial light. A western or southern window is ideal. Aloe that are kept in low light often grow leggy.
Temperature: Aloe vera do best in temperatures between 55 and 80°F (13 and 27°C). The temperatures of most homes and apartments are ideal. From May to September, you can bring your plant outdoors without any problems, but do bring it back inside in the evening if nights are cold.
Fertilizing: Fertilize sparingly (no more than once a month), and only in the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant formula mixed at 1/2 strength.
Watering Your Aloe Vera
The biggest mistake most people make when caring for Aloe Vera is overwatering. Aloes prefer dry soil conditions, and should be watered sparingly, particularly in winter when sunlight becomes scarcer. Feed it with adequate water without overdoing it. Little dryness is not bad for aloe; in fact, it makes it thrive!
Watering about once a week should be sufficient in warmer months, and about once every two weeks in winter. For best results, let the soil at the base of the plant become dry and crumbly before watering. If you keenly follow this advice, you will have successfully repotted aloe vera long stem with ease.
WARNING: The gel from aloe vera leaves can be used topically, but should NOT be eaten by people or pets. It can cause unpleasant symptoms such as nausea or indigestion and may even be toxic in larger quantities.
