They need as much light as you can give them inside. The plant is too far away from the window. You will need to cut back on watering while inside. The pot sizes look fine. If the white sand is the same consistency throughout the pot, I think it will be very water retentive due to the fine grain. You will need to check the dampness before watering.

Sorry, but I disagree, the pot is way too big for plants that size.

Also sand is never good to use, esp such fine sand, will make problems in future. Why would you put a layer of sand on top? Awful for the plants & harder to tell when to water.

@aloebot the location gets a ton of sunshine all day- south facing. The sand is just on top mixture of gravel soil rock and sand with in.

@karen, do u think it is too wide or too deep? I read online they like sand :-(

Close, they like a more gritt sand. Almost like small gravel. Best to simply use regular potting soil with about half perlite. Myself, I use a lot of poultry grit in my mixes. The bigger the plant, the more forgiven they are. Yours seems okay to me.

Pot size is a little large. I have kept mine in much less then 1/2 of what you show. When I see roots trying to get out, then I repot to next size. With a high gritty mix, it really doesn't matter much.

I remember an old saying; Sand is for mixing with Cement.

Here's a photo of my Aloe (vera) barbadensis. That's a gallon jug for scale (i dont know how big the pot is). This post inspired me to repot mine. Here are the babies I separated from the mother plant (and my sock foot). I purchased this plant as a pup about 3 years ago.

I’m repotting tomorrow!!!

Thank u everyone!!! Sand didn’t seem right since it had been so happy prior! I’m repotting tomorrow!besides the mixture and sand, any repotting advice?!

Don't be in too much of a hurry. Wait till warmer weather where it could recover outside. It will shock it some and best to wait and really watch the water issue.

Remember you had success in the past with them.

I'm not sure where you live, Andrea. It's already warmed up quite a bit here. I am able to put plants outside for the most part but I have to watch the forecast in case it gets too cold so I can bring them back in. If it were still getting near freezing, I probably would have held off on repotting. Aloes are tough though!

Have you decided what you're going to use as putting media?

I’m in Charleston and temps have been 60/70’s during the day, but dropping at night. The forecast go forward is really warm!

I feel like it was fine til I added sand so I definitely want to get it out of there ASAP!!

I agree. It would be better off bare root on a shelf than in sand.

They look happier already! I had significant root rot, but a few new roots had started on both plants. They rebound! Last question, water or wait? I used cactus soil for succulents.

Andrea

I would suggest for you to re-read few posts above. They all suggested mixing a well draining mix, mentioned different substrates that could be added to C&S soil, and even showed photos. And you had 'significant root rot' according to what you just said. So potting plants in better draining mix than soil from the bag is very important.

I hope you did cut off all rotten and otherwise damaged roots (any that were dry and broken).

One shouldn't water plant that had rotting roots (that is what you said) and has been potted into mix without adding some substrate to improve drainage (better than sand, but still should be improved).

I am assuming container has drainage holes since I see saucer underneath.

@rina_ontario,Canada - Nope there is no need to “re-read” I’m not an idiot. I already had rocks, etc I have been using for drainage. The SOIL MIXTURE I WAS USING WAS WHAT I DIDNT DO CORRECTLY. Maybe you should re-read. OBVIOUSLY I CUT THE ROOTS... I’m not new to plants, just succulents.

Andrea

I am sorry, but I didn't say or even suggested that you are an idiot. There is no need for you to scream and try to put words in my mouth. I do not know why you mentioned rocks - I didn't say anything about rocks. Are you suggesting rocks are part of your mix? I have no idea what your rocks are like - but rocks are too big for a mix. It is grit that is used in the mix, not rocks. BUT, maybe it is same thing that both of us mean just giving it different name. If that is the case, maybe you should post a photo of your rocks, with a measuring tape for size comparison.

I only commented on your last photos - not the previous mixture - where I do not see anything added to C&S soil. If there is plenty of perlite - it would be visible. If you added 'rocks', maybe you should post a photo of the mix because none are visible in your pot - correction, there are few visible (maybe I am blind for not seeing many). Few I see are too large to be used for good gritty mix. Comparing to photos at least 2 other posters attached, where different ingredients are visible, I can't see that in your photos.

And no, I didn't notice where you mentioned anything about cutting the roots. If I misread, I apologize. But I am not going to re-read whole thread...

Eta: I did read your other posts, I still do not see anything about roots cutting or cleaning, except that you ..."had significant root rot"...

Excuse me pls. what rocks? For what? They do not help drainage. Who said anything abt rocks other than you? These are not personal attacks here, we're discussing the plants.

The type of soil to use & ratio to Perlite were suggested, it's what you should have done to correct the situation you're having which appears to be improper drainage due to poorly draining materials.

It's not a given you cut the roots, we try not to assume 'cause Folks often do things differently from one another.

We try to avoid name calling here, as well as shouting at Folks, especially when THEY COME ASKING FOR OUR HELP.

It's unfortunate you seem to feel the help here is inadequate. You are of course, welcome to seek help elsewhere.

Everybody hold on. We are here to help and some times we disagree with each other. What works for some doesn't always works for every one. No need to get angry. Using rocks alone at the bottom of the pot is good only if you still have a drain hole. I know some who use rocks on some pots without drain holes and it works for them because the watch their watering. My self, water has to drain out some where and just rocks will hold moisture and cause rot.

I know you know a lot about plants due to showing pictures of a nice aloe plant. You asked for more and we gave our own ways that help us.

I like both Rina and Karen for their advise they offer. Thank you. Lets be friendly here.

Andrea - sometimes it is difficult to imagine what we are talking about. I like pictures. Actually feeling with my hands is better, but pictures will do.

When we talk about adding perlite to a mix, we mean at least 50/50. Measure with whatever you have - a scoop, a measuring cut, a Dixie cup. Do a scoop of soil, and a scoop of perlite. In the end, it should look really chunky, like this.

That 50/50 mix doesn't work for me on everything. It stays too wet during my summers when we get rain every day. But it may be perfect for your conditions if you are keeping the plant indoors (or you don't get 50-70 inches of rain over the summer - LOL).

When we mention grit, most of us mean granite chicken grit. It is this size -

I hope these pictures help. And as Stush said, your other plants look good! And I really like that new pot you have for your Aloes.

Good luck!