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Cultivating aloes in containers
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Aloes in containers, as well as most succulents can be very decorative  indoor  houseplants. Succulent plants (fat plants) do very well as pot plants because they do not need a lot of soil around the roots.  Potted aloes can be left without watering for long times - no problem when you are on vacation.
The cultivation of aloes in pots or containers are easy,  click on the links :-
Container size                Soil or growing medium                  Light requirements  
Cleaning plants                Fertilizing  
The types of pot to use for planting aloes or any other pot plant is mainly  a matter of personal preference. Plastic pots are lighter, cheaper, require less watering and are easy to keep clean. Clay pots can help to lessen the effects of over-watering, but they become unsightly with stains and water marks.  Anything can be used as a container for indoor plants, from a bath tub to an old boot.
Repotting:- cut the roots with at least one-third of their length and let them dry for a few days first before re-potting them.
aloes in pots and containers in the garden aloe hobby in pots and containers

Container size.

The rosette of an aloe is heavy.  Choose a wide pot high enough to leave space for a layer of   relative large stones without soil in the bottom of the container for weight and drainage.  Aloes do not need much root space, but an aloe plant is top heavy so they need a container large enough to balance the top. Small or young aloes should not have a lot of unused soil in the pot.  In nature aloes can grow on a rock or in a crack with a minimum soil.
Containers can be  made of plastic, ceramic or clay, wood, copper, brass and various other materials with or without drainage holes.  Anything can be used as a container, from a bath tub to an old boot.
Do not place the container into another container ("double-potting") as there is a danger of the container standing in water. Place a tray beneath the container to catch the excess water. Make sure the tray is large enough to prevent water damage to your furniture.
Clay pots are porous and allow  evaporating through the sides, thus it is more likely for unsightly salts to accumulate on the pot. Non porous containers can be neater but be very careful to let the soil dry out before it is watered again.
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photos by Ben Botha.    Pots and plants were made and cultivated by Ben Botha.

Soil or growing medium

Crushed dolomite or limestone should be added to the cacti mix (normal potting soil is also fine) sold in nurseries.  Except for Aloe plicatillis - this aloe grows in a slightly acid to neutral soil. Garden compost can be used (bake it to remove insects, seeds and so on)   mix in the crushed dolomite or limestone.  Never use garden lime it is too strong for pots.  Mix stones/pebbles or crushed pottery into the potting mix for drainage.  Crushed Dolomite is recommended as it keeps the soil neutral to basic. 
The plants need roughly 50% crushed dolomite, stones/pebbles/pottery and 50% (or less) potplant soil. Finer stones for smaller pots.Feed the potted aloe plants with a good liquid fertilizer at 1/4 the strength given for other plants . 

See our tips page

Light requirements 

Light is the most important factor for a plant.  It needs the light to manufacture food which is survival number one.

Aloes need as much light as possible.  Choose a place near a window where the plant could get some sun or add artificial bright light.  There are special lights on the market which can be used to give the right amount of light.  Aloes need strong light to keep their shape neat and to keep them from becoming soft and susceptible to disease.  Sunlight or strong light is needed to promote flowering.   However,  beware of scorching through a glass window.  The plant will not die, but it will have ugly burn marks.    
Cleaning plants

Indoor plants collect dust that give dull sickly appearance to the plants. Clean leaves are neat and give a healthy appearance to the aloe plants. Cleaning the aloes plants with a small amount of alcohol and liquid soap added  to the water will remove insects and plant lice.

The way to clean the aloe or succulent plants is to put them outside in a rain shower, or inside under the shower. Wipe the underside of the leaves with a soft cloth. Let the soil in the container dry out completely before watering again.

Fertilizing

Indoor plants have  lower  fertilizer requirements than aloes growing outside in full sun..

Fertilizer sold for flowering potted plants are fine for the aloe plants.   Do not feed aloes from a summer rainfall area ( summer growers) in winter and the winter rainfall plants should not receive fertilizer in summer.   Fertilizer burn does not occur easily when a water-soluble fertilizer is used. 

If a natural fertilizer is preferred then dried cow paddies can be crumbled on top of the soil. One application is usually enough or a small sprinkling monthly - only in the growing season -  is even better.  A teaspoon Magnesiumsulfate sprinkled over the soil once at the beginning of the growing season should be added.

A white film on the soil, outside of the pots or the drainage holes is an indication of salt building up due to salt in the water or too much fertilizer. Salt buildup in the soil can lead to root damage, causing symptoms such as reduced growth, brown leaf tips, dropping of lower leaves and wilting of the plant.

Prevent salts building up by watering the soil completely wet and let the surplus drain away. Never let the pot stand in water.  Let the soil dry out before watering again.

 

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