Repotting aloe vera becomes necessary for a few reasons, especially when your plant starts to outgrow its pot. It can also be done when you have a baby aloe plant growing alongside the original. Referred to as a pup, this wee little aloe can be separated and repotted in its own container. Aloe plants require repotting anywhere from every three to five years or so. I often will save two or three houseplants to repot at the same time while I have my soil out and the table covered. In this article, I’ll explain how to repot an aloe plant—and a pup if you have one.
Aloe was among my first houseplants when I got my first apartment. Having watched aloe vera gel applied to friends’ cuts and burns as a kid, I think it probably seemed like grownup pick that everyone should have in their home. Back then I didn’t have as much knowledge about what houseplants did and didn’t need to survive. I’ve become better at becoming attuned to a houseplant’s needs—though that doesn’t mean there isn’t the odd casualty. Spring is a good time of year to repot an aloe (and remove an aloe vera pup), when the plant is actively growing.
Why repot an aloe plant?There are a few reasons to repot any houseplant: