Agree with Kara, considering your zone, about when to repot. I too think it's a Gasteraloe, and it does need repotting -- and absolutely needs a deeper pot. Getting a new pot is not a major thing. Go to a big box store like Home Depot of Lowes, or even Walmart sells them. It should probably be 1.5 to 2 times deeper than the one you have. A plant that size will want to let its roots grow deep, not just wide. You can also order on Amazon.

Gasteria and Aloe both require good drainage, so when you say "bowl type" -- my first thought was NO. Get a"pot type" with at least one sizable drainage hole. If you buy a terra cotta pot (clay), that's what you'll get -- one hole. If you buy plastic, you will probably get more holes. Either way, drainage is a must and a good potting mix that is aerated with either perlite or pumice. 50/50 or 60/40 (perlite vs cactus soil) is okay. This plant should NOT be sitting in water, nor should it be over-watered. A pot with drainage holes, and a mix that is aerated, will serve that purpose.

Thanks for the help. I do have this plant in a planter with drainage. I would never plant into a pot without good drainage. The mix I have this plant in now is a cactus/bosai type mix. I did not mean a bowl but a planter that is a low bowl style with drainage. My big question is how deep of a planter should be ok for the plant. I don’t want to kill the plant by putting it in a container that is too deep. You say 2 times what it is in now so that is what I will look for. I like ceramic planters for my houseplants so I will start looking. I will hold off on the repot til Summer if you both think it should last til next June. Thanks again for the responses.

Hey Patti, it’s clearly loving what you’re doing to push others out of its pot!

I agree to hold off repotting; a bigger pot coming into winter is only going to make it more susceptible to rot. At least in spring it will be stretching it’s legs and be able to absorb water from more area of the pot.

As good as these pots look, I think they‘re designed to be more “fashion over function”. Although roots adapt and grow where they can whether that’s down or sideways, imagine being in a bed too short for you every night, you’d sleep much better if you had the room.

Chloé

Chloe - thanks for the good advice. I for sure will wait to repot this until the Summer solstice. I did not want it to be squeezed in that pot so that is why I asked but I agree that winter is not a time for growth. Thanks again for chiming into this question. I will carefully choose it’s new home.

Hi Patti, What a lovely plant. Like others have mentioned, I would go with a deeper pot. If you're concerned about over watering, a terra cotta pot may help. They help wick the moisture away and out of the soil. I've slowly moved my indoor succulents to them and they seem very content. Happy planting. :)

It is not only pot (material: plastic vs terracotta), and to be careful with watering - I have over 200 plastic pots with succulents. When watering, it should be thorough, until water drains out of drainage holes. Obviously, frequency of watering also depends on temps. Some ppl that have cooler space for overwintering water very seldom, if at all, during the winter. That could be 3-5mo or so. As long as pot has good drainage hole(s), and you use well draining potting mix, that matters more than what material is pot made of. That means adding lots of more coarse/grainy substrates, like sifted or rinsed perlite or pumice, and if available - some grit and/or scoria and similar, as robinswfl already suggested. It is probably good to wait with repotting, unless plant is in wrong pot and soil, that could cause more damage than repotting.

The growth has been great this Summer. My main concern is that the roots do not have the room they need. The water drains well so I will wait til next year for a new home for it. Thanks all.