First time with my Aloe plant. Need help repotting

[NikiWay]

My mom bought me an Aloe plant last summer. It came in a plastic container with pebbles in it, and I haven't messed with it til today because it's starting to grow more than the pot can hold. I was going to use regular potting soul, but luckily I decided to look it up. I've read so many different things and I'm 100% confused!
Later today or tomorrow I will be going to the garden center to buy everything I need, but I want to be sure I don't buy anything I don't need.



First off, my aloe has been sitting in a window for a long time now. I noticed that there are a lot of dried out "leaves" that have fallen off, so I just throw them out. Also, my plant thrives around the edges, but if you look in the middle you can see what looks like the roots.



I have a massive ammount of plastic containers, but I read clay ones are best. Does that really matter? I am not sure how much heavier the Clay pots are than plastic, but I really want to be able to bring it inside when it gets cold. It's been sitting in my bay window during the winter.

Next I need to know what type of soil. I heard that a cactus mix is nice, I also read that mixing sand or pebbles will help make sure the water doesn't soak to prevent rot.

Once I have the soil and the pot, I am wondering if I should try to spread out the plant. All the roots and everything are really tight together from the small pot. Should I try to break some pieces off so when I repot it will be more spread out, or should I leave it exactly how it is?

I'm sorry this is so long, but I have one more question. I found a couple of what I believe are Pup's. If the photos work, I'll post what they look like. I put them in water for a minute and now they're in regular potting soil. I really want to get them into the right type of soil so they can grow, enabling me to give them to my friends as gifts.



Thanks for any and all help!

[Jess]

What you are doing looks pretty good so far.
Pull off as many of the babies as you can. The centre may have become too overgrown to do anything with but you won't know that until you get there. The roots start to grow up the plant when it is stressed and looking for escape in your case because it is potbound....but it looks very healthy in spite of this. A lot of people overwater but yours has no yellowing which is a typical sign of this. Aloes can and should be very neglected which is why it has grown so well!
Soil should be gritty and dry out fast. You are imitating desert conditions.
I use an organic cactus mix that can be bought in a bag here. See if you can find something similar. Plant your babies up either individually or you can put a few together in a pot if you want a big plant quickly. I do this as I use mine for first aid treatment on burns including sunburn. Plastic pots can be used but teraccotta is better as it dries out and there is less chance of the roots sitting in water and rotting.
Water in reasonably well and then do not water again until the soil has dried out completely. Give them the sunniest position you can indoors and put them outside in the summer when the weather is good (as you have been doing). All indoor plants benefit from a spell outdoors when the weather is conducive.
Water occasionally fron October through to spring.
Did I answer everything?
Lovely idea to give them to your friends as gifts.

[NikiWay]

Thank you very much! About an hour ago my mom and I went to the garden center and bought some Cactus & Succulent Potting Mix along with three new terracotta pots. One for the main plant, and two for the babies to grow and to give away.
You mention to water them then not water them for a few weeks.
When I was reading, all it said was "don't water for 2-3 weeks." So I'm not sure if I should water them today.
I haven't given them any extra water and when I put the main plant into the new pot I didn't remove the original soil.
I took pictures, so if it looks like i didn't do it right, or if it looks like I should do something different, I'd love any advice!




I pulled out about 10 pups, so the extra ones I put back in the plastic container.



Thanks

[Jess]

You are very welcome

Looks like you figured a lot out for yourself without my help.

Water all of them in now you have split and repotted including the mother plant. This is mainly done to settle the soil properly around the roots. Make sure it is enough but not too much. Hard to say exactly how much water....dribble it in until all the soil looks moist but not wet....

The mother plant may not look good anymore as she became so potbound but you can keep her for growing babies. You may find that eventually she gives up as the centre has proud roots now.
Aloe also benefit from chippings on the surface of the soil to stop the plant rotting at the base......which again you appear to have done!

[NikiWay]

Thank you so much Jess for all your advice!!