---
title: "First time Aloe Vera plant parent here! This is the original pot and…"
description: "First time Aloe Vera plant parent here! This is the original pot and soil my plant came in from Lowe’s. I don’t have a picture from when I first got it but it…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/A1jrb0iLCagMLe49dpCP4X"
community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle"
author: "Makayla"
published: "2025-12-19T20:56:22.389759Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Q6YxhhCMzct00UEi89zuiwJjBEMI3bh-QB8f-LOdlZs/v1PrhbKIRsS94L05TpaEJg.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Cactus \& Succulent Circle](https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w.md)

# First time Aloe Vera plant parent here! This is the original pot and…

_Posted by Makayla on 2025-12-19_

First time Aloe Vera plant parent here!  
This is the original pot and soil my plant came in from Lowe’s. I don’t have a picture from when I first got it but it definitely has grown since. Is this pot becoming too small? I believe it’s an 8 inch and I recently bought a 10 inch put but it looks massive! Should I change out the soil for 1:1 mix of succulent soil and perlite? And why do a couple of the stems look like this? Thank you for all the help!

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Q6YxhhCMzct00UEi89zuiwJjBEMI3bh-QB8f-LOdlZs/v1PrhbKIRsS94L05TpaEJg.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Q6YxhhCMzct00UEi89zuiwJjBEMI3bh-QB8f-LOdlZs/H0ny_N1lTfaBF7Z2CMMeqA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Q6YxhhCMzct00UEi89zuiwJjBEMI3bh-QB8f-LOdlZs/t2Xr4fAySda9ExJ7AuSYfw.webp?size=large)

## 3 comments

### GreenLeaf commented on 2025-12-20

Pot size is based on root ball, not what you see above the surface.

I good rule of thumb is 50:50 roots to soil ratio. If there is more roots than soil, it’s time to upsize.

Usually you can wait a day or two after watering and gently remove your whole plant and soil as one unit, from the pot to check.

### Nate commented on 2025-12-20

Aloe do generally prefer to be root bound though. They can be very susceptible to root rot if the soil stays wet

### PlantsInHarlem commented on 2025-12-21

I made the mistake of repotting my aloe into a bigger pot. She did nothing for a year. I downsized earlier this year and she’s growing again, albeit slowly. I would recommend against repotting.

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_