How Big Do Aloe Plants Get? (And How to Control Their Growth Rate)

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Aloe vera plants are unique and hardy succulents. They add a lush greenness to any room and are ideal air purifiers for indoor areas.

They’re also also relatively easy to grow, and with the right care, they’ll be thriving in your home for years to come.

The right care entails giving your aloe the sunlight, humidity, temperature, and watering requirements it needs. 

With those needs met, these multipurpose succulents can reach up to three feet tall.

Stick around to learn more about the size of aloe vera plants, as well as how you can get them to grow bigger or keep them small.

Appearance of Aloe Vera

The most intriguing feature on aloe plants is their very short stem. They also have thick green leaves that grow from the central stem. 

The leaves are fleshy and spear-like, with small serrated teeth growing along the edges.

Luckily for you, these plants are pretty versatile—they can be small enough to keep as novelty succulents in a terrarium or large enough to fit into potted planters on your patio. It depends on how you grow them.

How Fast Do Aloe Plants Grow?

Although most succulents are slow-growers, aloe veras are exceptional early bloomers. So, if you’re doing things right, you can get your aloe to grow quite large with noticeable new leaf growth every few months.

How Big Do Aloe Plants Get?

Aloe vera plants grown indoors typically grow between 12 and 24 inches (30 to 61 cm). They can also grow up to three feet (91 cm) in the right conditions.

But how can you get your aloe to grow from a small succulent into a larger one that becomes the centerpiece of the room? Well, it’s all about those right conditions!

Ideal Growing Conditions to Promote Growth

Some changes like improving your watering schedule and increasing sunlight exposure can push your aloe plant to new heights.

Sunlight

The one thing I’ve learned from having several aloe vera plants is that they grow well when they have a lot of indirect light.

Direct sunlight, especially during the summer months, can burn the leaves and cause the plant to dry out too quickly.

On the other hand, without enough sunlight, the plant will grow to be tall and spindly, rather than full with healthy leaves. Consequently, although it will grow tall, it won’t be structurally strong enough to hold its weight.

Having said that, the ideal placement for your aloe to soak in the right amount of sunlight is in a west or east window.

You can also place your aloe in a southern spot, but ensure that it’s not exposed to direct sunlight. About six to seven hours of sunlight per day is perfect for your succulent.

If your house doesn’t receive adequate sunlight, you can always use artificial lights as an alternative.

Temperature Requirements

Aloe vera plants thrive between 55 and 85°F (13 and 30°C), so pay attention to room temperature and move the plant to a warmer or cooler room if needed.

A low temperature can cause your aloe’s leaves to turn yellow, so make sure the room is warm enough. On top of that, make sure to keep the plant away from drafty spots like the radiator, air conditioner, and house door.

Watering Your Aloe

The biggest mistake you can make with an aloe plant is to overwater it. The key to getting this plant to grow is consistent watering. Overwatering will lead to root rot, which will eventually kill the roots of the plant.

The top one to two inches of your soil should dry out completely before the next watering. Otherwise, the plant will sit in water.

I have my plant pots sitting on top of a layer of small gravel rocks. That way, the water collects in the gravel instead of the roots.

During the spring, summer, and fall, you can water your aloe vera every two to three weeks. As for winter, water more sparingly, every three to four weeks.

When the colder months approach, the plant will start its dormant stage. Little growth happens then, making water less of a necessity.

The Right Pot and Soil

The key to choosing the right pot for your aloe vera is making sure that it’s well-draining. It should have one or more holes on the bottom.

My favorite containers are clay or terracotta. They help keep the soil moist for longer periods.

Aside from the pot itself, you’ll want to use a well-draining soil mix. Check your local garden store for a commercial mix designed for succulents.

Alternatively, you can make your own with a mix of regular potting soil and perlite or sand. 

After getting your pot, plant the aloe about a third way into the pot. Make sure to leave about a half-inch of space between the top layer of soil and the edge of the pot.

Once the aloe starts to become root-bound, repot it into a sized-up container.

Fertilizer

Like most succulents, aloe vera plants aren’t too reliant on fertilizer. In most cases, the organic matter infused in the potting mix can offer enough nutrition for your plant.

However, that matter can break down over time, and your aloe may need an extra helping hand.

In that case, you can fetilize your plant every six to eight weeks, and make sure not to do it during the dormant phases.

Keep in mind that fertilizing too often can lead to “leaf burn,” where the tips of the leaves start to turn brown. If you’re going to fertilize, choose a liquid fertilizer high in phosphorus, such as 10-40-10. 

Generally, if your plant gets enough sunlight and water, it likely won’t need a fertilizer, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Humidity Levels

When it comes to humidity for your aloe plant, you want to keep it between 40% to 50%. Going above that percentage can lead to waterlogged soil and root rot.

Think of it this way: aloe plants are meant to survive in desert conditions. Their roots suck up moisture when they’re exposed to dry air. Too much of that hydration can make the plant overly soft and mushy, affecting its structural integrity.

At the same time, if humidity levels become too low, your aloe pet can shrivel up from the loss of water.

How to Keep Your Aloe Vera Small

If your aloe is healthy, it’ll keep growing. So, what if you want to have a small aloe vera in a cute container to keep on a shelf or table? How can you keep it from growing?

Aloe vera plants typically produce small baby plants that are known as pups. You can let the plant grow and replant its “pups” into small four-inch pots.

Now, to keep them small, you can regularly prune them. Additionally, you’ll want to go easy on the fertilizer since you don’t need the extra nutrition. You can also avoid repotting the pups as often as you would a growing aloe plant.

How to Repot Aloe Pups

Wait until the pups are about three inches tall before you divide them off from the main plant.

To remove pups, you’ll need to carefully take the mother plant out of the pot. The baby plants will have roots that are entwined with the main plant. Gently pull the pup away from the rest, being sure it has its roots intact.

You can use clean, sharp pruning scissors if needed to remove them. Then, repot these small plants.

I often give these small aloe vera plants away as a gift—you can plant them in a teacup or other eye-catching container.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how big aloe plants get and how to grow them successfully, you’re ready to go out and buy your first aloe.

Flower shops or garden centers are a good place to start. Once you have one aloe in your home, it won’t be long before you have more!

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