I've potted a lot of aloe plants using potting soil with no issues.

In fact, I pulled out a bunch of aloe plants that were getting out of hand on one side of the property, and they've been sitting in two buckets for almost a year with almost no ill effects. They get water when it rains and when I checked on them the other day, they were healthy and green. I haven't checked to see if the roots grew through the bucket into the ground but it's not a problem.

Now I try to keep all my aloe in pots.. twice I've planted a single aloe plant in the ground, and within a year and a half, I had a six foot long hedge...they grow like crazy here...

Also, clipping the leaves are not a problem, just do it with love. The gel in the leaves is great for burns and cuts, and you can eat the gel for intestinal issues. However, we just buy the gallon of aloe vera juice from the store for our daily shot.

Hope this helps...!!