Wait! What? Is This Why My Aloe Plant Is Turning Brown?
The basic reason sure will surprize you!
Aloe vera is a beautiful plant that is easy to keep happy and thriving. But when your favorite aloe plant starts turning brown, it isn’t a pretty sight.
Well! You are not alone in encountering this problem. There are many people who do everything right but still wonder, “why is my aloe plant turning brown?”
It could be because you’re just overdoing what’s needed. Yes, you read it right. You might be going overboard with the basic care i.e watering. Overwatering is the most common cause of aloe leaves turning brown.
However, this isn’t the only reason. Whether you have a houseplant or an outdoor aloe plant, it is important to understand all the reasons that could be responsible for your aloe losing its beautiful color and ways to avoid it.
Let’s look at them in detail.
In This Article
- Why Is My Aloe Vera Plant Turning Brown?
- How to Save Your Aloe from Turning Brown?
- Other Signs of a Stressed Aloe Plant
- FAQs
- Final Word
Why Is My Aloe Plant Turning Brown?
Aloe leaves turning brown is a sign that the plant is not growing under optimum conditions. The exact reason could be any such as overwatering or underwatering, salty soil mix, extreme temperatures, too much sunlight, over-fertilization, or pests.
Let us talk about it in greater detail below.
Overwatering or Underwatering
This is the most common reason why aloe plants turn brown. Like most succulents, aloe plants are known for their carefree and easy growing period. However, these plants don’t thrive when their roots are drenched in water.
Likewise, underwatering your plant can also turn it brown.
So, follow a proper routine to water your outdoor or indoor aloe plant. It is advisable to water it only once every 2 weeks during summer. Whereas in the winter season, you should water it once a month. Don’t forget to leave your soil to fully dry out before watering it again.
Too much sunlight
Sometimes you could notice a brown aloe plant due to direct exposure to sunlight. So, make sure to put your aloe plant in a shaded area with indirect light. If you have a houseplant, place it in the morning sun. But remember to keep it away from the hot afternoon sunlight from a window.
This will be most helpful if you are disturbed about “Why is my aloe plant turning brown?”. That way, you might be able to turn your aloe green again and bloom well.
Excess salty soil
A surplus of salt may accumulate on your plant’s surface if you fertilize it excessively. This can result in burning the roots and leading to the browning of aloe plants. You can fix this by repotting your aloe plant. Make sure to dust off the roots to remove the soil, wash the roots gently and replant the aloe.
Extreme temperature
Could temperature be a reason why is my aloe vera turning brown? Yes, it could be! Most types of aloe plants happily grow in warm temperatures. Therefore, keep your plant under the ideal temperature of 55-85 F. Too cold or too hot temperature can adversely harm the plant.
Overfertilization
Adding excessive fertilizers to your aloe plant can severely damage its roots. Also, it will slowly cause their leaves to turn brown. So, be aware of the amount of fertilizer your aloe plant needs. You should only fertilize them every 6-12 months. Also, take notice of the ideal NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratio, which is 10-40-10.
Pests and diseases
Most aloe plants attract pests and it could be a common cause of their browning leaves. If you find out pest infection in your aloe plant, don’t panic. You can use high-pressure water to quickly wash away the pests from the plant.
If this doesn’t work, use a cloth or sponge soaked in soapy water to wipe the leaves. It will help you get rid of any stubborn pests. Meanwhile, aloe plants can also show brown spots because of fungal infections. To remedy that you must cut the infected leaves and spray some antifungal powder meant for aloe plants.
Others reasons
Why is my aloe plant turning brown? Is this question still troubling you? You need to know a few additional reasons why aloe vera plants turn brown. Sometimes your indoor or outdoor aloe plant can be exposed to harmful chemicals. Other than this, the plant could turn brown due to transplantation shock, or lack of nutrients in the soil.
How To Save Your Aloe Plant That Is Turning Brown?
Here are some practical ways to save your aloe and promote healthy growth.
- Repot the plant after cleaning its roots of excessive dead ends and soggy soil.
- If you want to keep your aloe plant in a pot, use succulent or cactus soil. It will offer the needed drainage to your plant and prevent water logging.
- Never overwater our plant. It can help it to turn brown. Wait or the soil to dry and then deep water it. Let the water drain out correctly, so it doesn’t leave soggy roots.
- Aloe plants don’t like being fed with excessive fertilizers. A fertilizer just once a year during spring will work great.
- Don’t place your aloe plant in the blazing direct light of the sun. Try to position your plant away from the window so it can indirectly receive sunlight.
- Place your aloe plant under suitable temperatures. Most varieties of aloe love to thrive under temperatures of 55 to 80 F and 40 to 50% humidity level. Keeping your plant under too warm or cold conditions can cause severe damage to it.
Other Signs Indicating Your Aloe Plant Is Under Stress
Why is my aloe vera turning brown? This is a common question that often troubles most aloe plant owners. Here, take a look at some more signs showing that your aloe plant is in trouble.
- Aloe plant turning black: When your aloe vera suffers from overwatering, fungal disease, or insufficient sunlight. It can cause your succulent to turn black. You can use an anti-fungal treatment to fix it. Also, remember to water the plant once it is dry and keep it in sufficient sunlight.
- Aloe vera turns red: A common cause of red aloe vera leaves is keeping them in extreme sunlight (for at least 6 hours). It can cause your aloe plant leaves to dry out, bend, and turn red.
- Aloe plant turning yellow : This is a common sign that your aloe plant is being overwatered. Its leaves will lose color, turn yellow and then start to turn brown and droop. Follow a strict watering routine to prevent your plant from being wilted.
- Sunburnt aloe vera: When left in the scorching hot sunlight for an extended period, your aloe plant can get sunburned. Make sure to move it to a spot where it receives morning sun and light shade in the afternoon.
FAQs
Q. What do I do when my aloe plant turns brown?
Ans. The first and foremost thing you need to do is find the answer to why are my aloe leaves turning brown. Most probably it will be due to overwatering. So, fix that first. Water it only once every 2 weeks.
Maybe if the damage is little, it can be cured with adjusting the watering frequency. But, if it is too late, you will have to cut the damaged leaves and repot the plant immediately. Then provide your aloe with well-draining soil and ample indirect sun.
Q. Should I cut off brown aloe vera leaves?
Ans.Of course, yes. If you see any pink and brown colored leaves in your aloe plant, just trim them immediately. Brown aloe vera leaves indicate that those parts of the plant are dying. So, to keep your plant green and healthy, look for any brown leaves and cut them.
You can use a knife for small or medium size aloe plants and sheers to remove thick leaves from bigger plants. Make sure to cut it in one go smoothly preferably at a diagonal angle. Don’t worry about the trimmed leaf end, as it will close on its own gradually.
Q. Can brown aloe turn green again?
Ans.As we know, aloe vera is a beautiful succulent that doesn’t need much care. But if you have brown aloe vera, there is very little chance that it will turn green again without trimming and repotting.
Q. Aloe vera turns brown after repotting – what to do?
Ans.People often complain, “why is my aloe vera plant turning brown after repotting?”. Commonly known as transplant shock, this happens when you repot the aloe plant in a damp soil.
It often results in rotting of roots which directly impacts the health of the plant. It clearly means that you should avoid repotting your plant in soil that has retained moisture for too long or simply in an environment that is alien to the plant.
Final Word
When you see brown or wilted leaves on your aloe plant, it shows that your plant is under stress.. It will not just ruin it’s health but also prevent it from growing. The best thing you can do is to figure out the causes of the browning of leaves which is pure trial and error.
Once you know the reason, you can determine and prepare the best aloe care routine to keep your plant growing, healthy and beautiful.
