Chris Buckland
Any plant keeper’s dream would be to be surrounded by thriving plants. With the Aloe Vera plant, one can breathe a sigh of relief. Aloe plant, popularly grown as a houseplant, requires not only low maintenance but also has significant benefits.
It is a succulent plant that comes from the genus Aloe. It may be stemless or very short-stemmed, having thick, green, and fleshy leaves.
However, Aloe Vera is sensitive to direct sunlight, so if you plan to buy this plant, make sure that it doesn’t come directly in contact with sunlight. All you need to do is place your plant at a position inside the house where it gets the sun rays partially, preferably near a window. Here is a complete guide on How Much Light Does Your Plant Need?
Aloe Vera plant can provide multiple benefits if taken care of properly. But, most people who keep this plant face the browning of leaves.
Let’s look at some reasons why your Aloe Plant is turning brown and how it can be avoided.
Reasons for Aloe Plants Turning Brown and Their Solution
Despite being the easiest plant to keep around your home and office, a few important things should be followed to avoid the plant from turning yellow or brown. First, let’s look at the causes for the Aloe Vera plants turning brown and the best possible solutions to address this issue.
Bad Watering
The Aloe Vera plant needs moderate conditions; therefore, overwatering is one reason it turns brown and causes excessive humidity. Stop watering the plant so frequently if you start to notice soggy and wet spots on the leaves. These spots will, unfortunately, turn brown, and the whole plant will die. Not only will the leaves turn brown, but the plant will suffer from a condition known as root rot. In this condition, the roots start rotting due to excessive water. As a result, the plant withers away.
But, although it may come as a surprise, many times, the cause of browning leaves may also be underwatering. Succulent plants should be watered less as compared to other plants, but too little hydration causes the leaves to thicken, which eventually leads to browning and kills the plant.
So the key to keeping the plant thriving is moderate watering.
Solution for Bad Watering
There are a few tips that can help save your plant from dying completely.
- If you start to notice the signs mentioned above, the immediate step is to re-pot the plant. This step will save the plant from dying completely.
Further steps can be taken after you have successfully re-potted the plant.
- If there are any mushy and wilted roots, clear them with sharp and clean shears.
- Take care that you don’t damage the healthy roots.
- After removing the damaged roots, place the plant in fresh soil and water it moderately.
Excessive Sunlight
Your plant will scorch if you place it in excessive sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight can cause the plant to turn brown due to shock. Sometimes when the plant is moved from indoors to outdoors, or from less heat exposure to more, the leaves start to turn brown due to this sudden change. The best temperature for these plants is between 55 to 80 F. If the plant is exposed to more than the written temperature, it will result in wilting and brownness.
Solution for Excessive Sunlight
There are a few tips to save your plant from sunburn and shock.
- Try to move it towards the outdoor environment slowly.
- First, try to place it in a shady place in an outdoor setting. This will give your plant the time to adjust to the outdoor environment.
Excessive Salt
The addition of excess salt can also cause the plant to turn brown. Extra salt can build inside the soil that can cause the roots to burn up and eventually turn brown. These salts accumulate in the roots and start to wilt them away. Thus, excessive salts are one of the main reasons for causing damage to the roots of the plant to a large extent.
Solution for Excessive Salt
Here are some tips to follow if the aloe plant is turning brown due to excessive salt:
- Leaching the plant with plenty of water can dissipate the salt.
- Re-potting will also save the plant from further damage.
- The soil should be replaced as advised to avoid the accumulation of salt.
Adding Excessive Fertilizer
Sometimes fertilizers do more harm than good. And this can be seen if your plant is turning brown due to the fertilizers. The use of excessive fertilizer also makes the aloe plant turn brown. When the plants are placed in an indoor setting, the chemicals sprayed on them start rotting the plant. The chemicals that are for cleaning purposes damage the leaves, and they start wilting within no time.
The plants that are placed in outdoor settings receive the herbicide drift present within the air. This also causes the plant to turn brown and damaged. The plant should be placed in a different place if it is exposed to more wind disturbing its natural color.
Solution for Excessive Fertilizer
- The plant should only be given the chemicals only when in dire need.
- A transplant becomes necessary to prevent the chemicals from penetrating the leaves to avoid further damage.
- The chemicals can also damage the vascular tissues of the plant.
- If your plants start to turn brown, change the soil immediately and look for any damaged roots to cut them out.
Cold Environment
Cold air and the cold environment can also damage the plant, leading to its death. As mentioned above, Aloe Vera is a plant that needs average and moderate conditions to grow. Foliar damage can be witnessed when the plants are exposed to a cooler environment, ultimately turning the leaves brown.
Solution for Cold Environment:
- To save the plant from damage due to coldness, it is advised to place it at 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The easy way to save the plant from coldness is to place it in a moderate region, and if the leaves start to turn brown, cut them immediately, so they don’t damage the healthy leaves and roots.
Many have raved about the easy-going succulents, specifically Aloe Plant, in books and practices of gardening. With just a few tips and tricks, including proper watering, a moderate amount of light and fertilizer, etc., the Aloe Plant is bound to flourish. So, put these tips to practice and save the Aloe Vera from dying.
Did you know what pairs best with an Aloe Vera plant? The Pothos plant! If you have a Pothos at your home whose leaves are turning yellow, you will find the issues and their solutions in this article.
Happy Gardening!
FAQs
Do aloe plants prefer sun or shade?
Aloe plants are adaptable and will thrive in a variety of growing conditions. They do best in bright, indirect light and well-drained soil. Aloe plants require regular watering, but do not over-water. If the plant starts to shrivel, it may be receiving too much water. Aloe plants are drought-tolerant plants that need adequate sunlight and water to grow well.
Is aloe vera a good indoor plant?
Yes Aloe vera is a very easy to care indoor plant. It requires a sunny location with ample watering (but without drowning the roots), and moist but well-drained soil. The leaves can be chopped off and used for first aid or beauty treatments.
