The pot is enormous. It needs a pot half that size, or smaller. I have heard that aloes like to be almost root bound.

I think your soil looks a little rich for an aloe, and I tend to agree with littlebug, above, about the size of the pot. I think it might be too large. But then, I'm not an expert at growing Aloes. My own have done best in a clay pot, and usually with a soil mix that is about 60% pumice or perlite and 40% soil -- and maybe a handful of grit thrown in too.

I can't help but wonder if the leaves are not able to take in full nutrients from the roots. I don't know why that would happen, but I recently lost what was a very prolific Haworthia that seemed unable to get nutrients to all the new pups. You say that you water every 2-3 weeks and "not much water" when you do. My understanding with almost all succulents is -- water thoroughly, so that some water drains out the drainage hole, and then don't water again until dry. Maybe that would help.

If the rootball was nowhere near big enough for the smaller pot (as you said) it should not have been moved larger.

Pls go back to the smaller pot as this is wayyy too big as mentioned above.

"100% Miracle-Gro cactus and succulent potting soil blend." is not fast draining enough, even tho' it's called C&S mix. I'd add at least 50% Perlite.

I believe your plant is too dry, don't know where you are, but it's hot summer in much if the USA. I'm watering my Aloes every 7-10 days AT LEAST, as it's 80-90 degrees here in NYC & they're in west window, full sun.

I wouldn't worry abt those little tiny splotches on your plant, tho' I don't know what they are (look like kitty bites maybe). Potting it so HUGE is the greater problem.

PS: these plants don't want a mix that holds water, as you suggested in your thinking abt your mix. Also, when you water them, pls water 'til some comes out the bottom.

Thanks everyone! I moved it up to the bigger pot because I had a baby pilea that a friend had given me in it originally, and swapped it into the smaller pot the aloe was originally in. A friend had suggested before the aloe may need a bigger pot, that's where I got the idea.. Got the pilea all situated into the smaller pot to take the aloe out and realize it already had plenty of room :/ I will probably get a smaller terra cotta pot to move it in to.

I was a little worried about the new soil mix I put it in staying too wet but thought maybe that's what it needed? In my experience the miracle gro c&s mix is so fast draining that it's almost as if I had never even watered it. Even with the smallest bit of water it would drip out the bottom. That's why I mixed the more "water sponge"ish soil in with the c&s mix. Why would such little water run so quickly through the pot?

And yes, there are DEFINITELY some kitty bites, ha. I'm not concerned about those, but my concern is the speckly brown splotches that seem to grow and eventually the whole leaf succumbs to it..

Also, this aloe stays inside 100% of the time (75deg inside) as I sunburnt it last summer and am scared of bringing in buggies.

mug for scale... should I go back to a pot the size of the one on the left?

Aloes only need a pot 2 inches bigger than its rootball, maximum. Since it seems you underwater, I'd get it a plastic pot, not terra cotta.

The white pot on left look like the saucer doesn't come off, that's a problem. For ANY plant, even if a cute pot.

Water draining fast thru the soil is what you WANT for Aloes, slow draining leads to root rot.

May I respectfully suggest that you pls read up on Aloe care, as what you're guessing they want is far off the mark & likely to cause problems.

Truthfully, the reason I came here to ask this is because I have done a lot of research to try and solve this speckly brown leaf problem and have not found an answer. I went from originally overwatering (which led to its own set of issues) to watering once a week thoroughly, to drastically underwatering, and I still haven't been able to solve the speckly brown spots.

Respectfully, I know that aloes typically want a fast draining soil :)

Just giving it a shot as no 2 situations ever seem to be the same with house plants. My thought was that adding a water-retaining mix to the c&s mix would help some of the water stick around long enough to be sucked up by the roots, as it was running through SO quickly that it didn't seem to be even getting to the plant.

Thanks Robin, I will definitely try amending a straight c&s with some perlite and see if that helps my watering dilemma, and *fingers crossed* my brown splotchies!

The soil was still *very* loose when I was repotting however, would it be a peat hardening problem if that was the case? It was like I could have lifted the plant straight out of the soil with no problem.

Btw - I kind of hate this "indoor potting mix" stuff. I dont recommend it and regret buying it but it was all I could find when I was out looking for regular potting soil last. It seriously never dries out if that's the only medium in the pot. Was just trying to find a way to use it, haha. I definitely have a lot to learn about mixing my own blends!

That's why we keep asking that you pls amend it. The soil could still be lose as it seems it hasn't YET hardened up as Robin suggests it eventually will. While I see SOME Perlite in there, it could use lots more.

I'm sorry I thought you hand't read up on Aloes, as your wish to make the water hang around linger suggests a misunderstanding of its needs. It doesn't need the water to hang around long, we PROMISE you that.

Your taste in pots is charming, but pls know the plants will do better inside smaller, plastic nursery pots, which you then drop into the larger, decorative pots (called cache pots).

Karen you really don't need to be so condescending. Geez. I read through your other comments on other peoples' posts and you are really very rude to people that are just looking for some advice. So sorry that my thought process has struck such a nerve with you. I appreciate the input from everyone else who can give advice without being so rude.

Pls tell me what's condescending here Meghan, as I do not mean that at all & folks who know me here know that.

Since when is apologizing seen as condescending? Pls tell me where I'm being rude.

I'm sorry I've offended you. I'll be sure to stay away from your posts.

ETA: don't know what other posts of mine you think you read already, as I only started posting under this name TODAY, this is maybe my 2nd post.