5 Best Soils for Aloe Vera – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Aloe vera plants are incredible succulents. Not only do they look really unique, but they also have some amazing health benefits. But like other succulents or cacti, they do have particular soil needs.

We’ve gathered together the five best soils for aloe vera plants and provided you with short reviews on each of them, complete with pros and cons. This way, you can make an informed decision regarding soil choice.

After the reviews, there is also a short buying guide filled with some important things to consider when choosing soil. Plus, a few tips on making your own soil if you’d prefer more control.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2024 Update)

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Premium Succulent Soil Mix	Large bag Reasonable price High-quality mix	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Succulent Potting Soil Mix	Versatile succulent potting mix Great value for the size of the bag Chemical and additive free	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Aloe Vera Succulent Potting Soil Mix	Hand-mixed for quality and freshness Pre-mixed to use right out of the bag Will work for other succulents as well	CHECK PRICE
		Aloe Vera Planting Soil	PROS Specially formulated for aloe vera plants Available in large quantities if you have more than two plants Increased pH levels to encourage aloe vera growth	CHECK PRICE
		Natural & Organic Soil	Organic material Good for multiple succulents Unique mixture	CHECK PRICE

The 5 Best Soils for Aloe Vera

1. Premium Succulent Soil Mix – Best Overall

This premium mix may be your best option if you’re looking for the best overall soil for your aloe vera plants. It balances being a high-quality potting mix in a large bag while remaining at a super reasonable price.

The added ingredients that aren’t typically in many other succulent soils help do things like increase drainage or balance pH levels. Depending on the succulent you’re growing, this one doesn’t have high levels of sand to perlite to keep drainage at the maximum. This soil may be best suited for minimal water needs for plants.

2. Succulent Potting Soil Mix – Best Value

This brand of succulent potting mix that will work great for your aloe vera is great because it’s all natural with no additives or chemicals. And it’s one of the best soil for aloe vera plants for the money because you get a good-sized bag for a reasonable price.

Some complain that the packaging is pretty cheap, so there’s a good chance the bag could get ripped if not used. And some people have complained it doesn’t drain well enough for succulents that need extremely dry soil.

3. Aloe Vera Succulent Potting Soil Mix – Premium Choice

If price isn’t a concern when shopping for your aloe soil, then this potting soil mix is worth considering. It’s at the higher end of the pricing, but it’s also hand-mixed in small batches to ensure the freshness and quality of the product.

Because you’re getting high-quality handcrafted soil, you’ll notice that it’s unavailable in large quantities. So, if bag size is an issue because you have a lot of succulents you want to plant, this may not be the best choice in soils.

4. Aloe Vera Planting Soil

You don’t want to cheap out when buying a potting soil mix for your aloe vera, but not everyone has a huge budget. This one is a good choice if you’re looking for decent aloe vera planting soil that won’t break the bank.

This formula provides the perfect environment for growing your aloe vera and will help it thrive. For example, if you want an aloe vera that will give you lots of new and healthy growth, you must use high-quality soil. However, there have been some complaints of drainage issues with this particular soil mix.

5. Natural & Organic Soil

Another affordable succulent soil is this organic cactus mix from Espoma. It’s got a slightly different mixture of ingredients than the others. Some say it’s a little more for cacti, but aloe vera will grow just as well, according to most of the reviews.

There have been a few complaints that this organic mix is sometimes a little inconsistent. For example, one bag gets opened and is a nice sandy mix with good drainage, then another comes with a higher ratio of mulch or wood chips.

Buying Guide: Selecting The Best Soil for Aloe Vera

Here are a few things to consider when deciding the best soil mixture for your aloe vera plant.

What Kind of Soil Does Aloe Vera Need?

Like many succulents, aloe vera plants require very good draining soil. They are susceptible to root rot if they sit in moisture. That’s why most succulent soils will have some mixture of perlite, sand, bark pieces, or lava rock. Because they have such rigid requirements, most soil that is suitable for aloe vera (or succulents in general) will be specified as such.

Important Considerations

If, for some reason, the soil you have or are interested in doesn’t specify that it’s for aloe vera, it’s possible it could still work. Here are some things to consider when looking at potting soil.

Pay Attention to Ingredients

The biggest thing is paying attention to what the soil has in it. The majority of it should consist of larger, well-draining ingredients such as perlite, lava rock, or bark chips. Sand and gravel work too, but typically you’ll add those to the bottom of the pot.

pH Level of Soil

Most succulents prefer slightly more acidic soil rather than alkaline. Aloe vera plants typically prefer soil that’s around 6.0 on the pH scale.

Drainage

Aloe vera plants cannot sit in water. They will succumb quickly to root rot. So, it’s important that whatever soil you use drains well. If you need to use regular potting soil for some reason, ensure that it drains well.

Making Your Own Succulent Potting Soil

If you’d prefer to bypass buying a commercially produced bag of aloe vera potting soil, making a DIY potting soil for your succulent is not difficult to do.

Conclusion

Between our top two picks, the primary difference between them is the size of the bag they come in. Packaging quality is also different, but both soils perform well. If you don’t have a tight budget, our third pick offers high-quality, hand-mixed potting soil to ensure you’re getting the best potting mix available.

Whichever soil you decide on, we hope that these reviews have been helpful in your decision on the best soil for your aloe vera.

Featured Image Credit: Iryna Imago, Shutterstock