Aloe Turning Brown (7 Causes And Ways To Fix Them)

Aloe is not only beautiful but also a very useful plant. It is not surprising that it has become very desirable, but sometimes you may have some troubles with it.

Improper soil moisture is the main reason why aloe turns brown. Other reasons could be too much direct sunlight or temperature stress. To correct brown leaves water the aloe when the potting soil is 80% dry, provide 70°F temperature and 6 hours of the direct morning sun. Also, use fertilizer in moderation and always monitor the health of your aloe.

Too wet soil can cause aloe to turn brown

Aloe is succulent and succulents do not like stagnant water in the ground. This is due to the conditions of their native habitat. Aloe can be without rain for some time, besides the soil in which aloe grows in nature is sandy and stony (i.e. very drained).

If you water your aloe too often, the roots may start to rot and the leaves may turn brown. Root rot can also occur because of moist soil or lack of drainage holes in the pot.

Symptoms:

• Aloe leaves turn brown and become deformed.
• The leaf tips may become dry.
• Soggy spots may appear on the leaves.
• The base of the stem shows brown signs of rot.

Solution:

• Carefully remove the aloe from the pot and check the root system.
• If the roots are mushy and look rotten, remove them. Leave only the healthy tissue.
• Clean any remaining dirt from the aloe.
• Wash the wounds with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. Dilute 1 part hydrogen peroxide in 5 parts water.
• Place the aloe in a dark, dry place for several hours to dry.
• Plant the aloe in good quality, well-drained succulent mix. Use a clay pot with drainage holes.
• Water the aloe only when the potting soil is 80% dry.
• Water the aloe with plenty of water, but do not leave excess water in the saucer under the pot.

Too much direct sun

Even though succulents love sunny places, aloes are slightly different in this regard. Yes, it also needs direct sun, but if there is too much sun, the leaves can get damaged. First, the color of the aloe will turn a little pale and then brown, this way the plant reduces the amount of chlorophyll in the tissues so it doesn’t get very bad burns.

Sun damage can occur if the aloe has been under shade or artificial light, but you have placed it on a south-facing window after purchase. Burns may not appear long enough, but as soon as midsummer arrives and the sun comes in full force, the aloe may suffer.

Also, sun damage often happens when you move an aloe from one location to another sunnier location. Or when taking the plant outside for the summer.

Symptoms:

• Leaves turn pale and brown.
• If the sun was too strong or you increased the amount of sunlight for the aloe very sharply, reddish-brown burns may appear on the leaves.
• The leaves may curl.

Solution:

• Move the aloe to a less sunny location. But remember that the aloe should receive 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
• After purchasing the aloe, place it in an eastern or western room. Get it used to direct sunlight gradually, 1 hour per week.
• Avoid increasing watering as this will not solve the problem but may cause root rot.

Insufficient watering

Aloe can survive relatively long periods of drought, but you can’t say it will look good during that time. If the plant senses a lack of watering, it will begin to reduce the amount of chlorophyll in its leaves to slow its growth and not use up its water supply. This will cause the leaves to slowly turn from green to pale green and then brown.

Different metamorphoses can happen to aloe during a drought. The leaves may shrivel up, the tips may become crispy, etc. From all this, it follows that you should not deprive aloe of access to moisture, especially in the summer.

Symptoms:

• Leaves slowly turn brown.
• Leaves will shrivel and curl as the water in them decreases.
• If the aloe is exposed to intense sunlight, the leaf tips may become crispy.

Solution:

• Water the aloe when the soil is 80% dry. The rest of the soil should be lightly moist but not wet.
• It is best to use a moisture meter to check the soil moisture.
• When watering, pour water until you see it flowing through the bottom holes. Wait until the excess water drains into a saucer and then pour it out.
• During the winter, let the soil dry out 90% or even completely between waterings.

Excessive heat or cold

Aloe grows in a temperate climate and can tolerate quite high temperatures. In periods of extreme heat, the plant goes into summer dormancy and its appearance changes dramatically. Only when the weather becomes more favorable the plant comes to life.

By growing aloe indoors we soften the growing conditions and the aloe looks vigorous most of the year. But if you take it outside in the summer, for example, the intense heat and sun can cause it to change color to brown. This can also happen if the aloe is placed too close to the windowpane.

Cold is another factor in the color change. If the temperature drops below 50°F (10°C), the aloe leaves will change their color to reddish-brown.

Symptoms:

• Aloe leaves turn brown due to extreme heat.
• Leaves curl and the tips shrivel up.
• Aloe leaves turn reddish-brown due to a sudden drop in temperature.

Solution:

• Provide the aloe with a comfortable temperature of 60°F-80°F (15°C-27°C).
• Avoid temperatures above 90°F (32°C).
• When moving the plant to a new location, always do so slowly.
• Do not place the aloe where there are appliances that radiate heat or cold. Eliminate all cold drafts.

Overfertilization

Overfeeding aloe can also cause discoloration of the leaves. The fact is that a large amount of fertilizer can burn the root system because fertilizer in most cases is made in the form of salts. Salts are an aggressive substance and if there is too much of them in the soil, they can cause damage to the living tissue.

In addition, aloe is succulent, and as we know, succulents are not big consumers of nutrients. A small amount of fertilizer will do some good, but not too much.

Symptoms:

• Aloe leaves turn brown.
• Brown spots appear on the leaves.
• You fertilized more than twice a month.

Solution:

• Put the aloe pot in a bucket or take it outside and pour plenty of water. Running water will wash excess salts from the soil.
• Or transplant the aloe into fresh soil.
• Fertilize aloe no more than 2-3 times per season. Avoid fertilizing over the winter.

Pest infestation

Aphids, mealybugs, thrips, and some other insects are the main pests of aloe. Although it may seem at first glance that this watery plant is not edible a large number of insects feed on aloe sap.

A relatively small pest colony can consume so much sap that the leaves lose their color and firmness. If you don’t do anything about it, the leaves will start to wither and die off.

Mites deserve special attention. Although they look like beetles, they are not insects. They also feed on the sap of aloe resulting in the leaves turning pale and brown.

Symptoms:

• Some of the leaves slowly lose their bright green color and become pale. Next, the leaves turn brown and shrivel up.
• Insects can be seen on the leaves.
• Leaves may curl or turn yellow.

Solution:

• Inspect the plant for pests. Use a magnifying glass to look for mites.
• If you see tiny bugs and small cobwebs, they are spider mites. In this case, spray the aloe with a miticide. Repeat the spraying after one week.
• If you see insects, spray the aloe with neem oil. To prepare the correct mixture, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Diseases

The disease is the last of the possible causes of aloe turning brown. There are a large number of pathogens that cause brown spots on the leaves. These diseases have a common name – leaf spot. Causes are insufficient ventilation and soil that is too moist.

There is also another type of disease called leaf blight. This disease affects parts of the leaves and causes them to darken and lose their green color. Causes are high humidity and water droplets on the leaves after watering.

Symptoms:

• Brown spots are present on the leaves of the aloe.
• There are areas of rot on the leaves and the leaf turns partially or completely brown.
• Aloe is growing in a humid environment.

Solution:

• Remove diseased leaves.
• Ensure good aeration and low humidity.
• Do not overwater the aloe.
• When watering, try to keep the water droplets away from the leaves.
• Spray the aloe with a multi-purpose fungicide or copper-based fungicide.