Is your aloe plant turning brown, and you have no idea why this is happening? Do not worry, as this is a common problem that I see come up and one I have had to deal with myself. In my job at a garden nursery, I have personally had to identify the cause and save many succulents, cacti, and aloe plants that turn brown.
In this article, I share with you all the tips, tricks, and secrets that I have learned from hands-on experience and from my studies in botany to help you save your aloe plant even if it is turning brown…
From my experience, aloe plants turn brown because the soil is too damp around the roots due to overwatering or poor drainage. This is because your aloe plant is drought-resistant and requires the soil to dry out between bouts of watering. If the soil is too damp, your aloe leaves turn brown and soft.
As there are quite a few other reasons why aloes turn brown, I wrote a list of the most common reasons that I encounter for aloe plants turning brown:
- Watering too often causes root rot (Aloe plants need the soil to dry out between each watering).
- Potting soil retains too much moisture, which results in root rot (Aloe plants require specially formulated ‘succulent and cacti soil’, which recreates the well-draining soil conditions of the aloe’s native environment).
- Aloe plants planted in pots without drainage holes in the base (Decorative outer pots, saucers, and trays cause excess water to pool around the aloe’s roots, causing root rot.
- The aloe plant is scorched reddish brown due to sunburn (moving aloes from relative shade to full sun without time for the aloe to adjust to the increase in light intensity causes brown scorched leaves).
- Aloe plant leaves turn brown and crispy at the base as the plant matures (this is normal for aloe plants, although it can also be caused by underwatering or not having enough sun).
- Aloe plants turn brown and soft after repotting due to root rot caused by potting soil that retains too much moisture (Normal potting soil retains too much moisture for aloe plants to tolerate, or the pot does not have drainage holes in the base).
- Aloe plants’ leaf tips turn brown due to a sudden contrast in conditions (A sudden increase in light intensity, temperature, or lowering of humidity causes the leaf tips to turn brown; underwatering can also be a factor).
- Underwatering can cause aloe leaves to turn brown and thin. Aloe plants need the soil to dry out between each bout of watering but should always be watered with a good soak to ensure the moisture reaches the roots where it is required or the leaves turn thin and brown as a sign of drought stress).
To save your aloe plants from turning brown, what you need to do is recreate some of the conditions of the aloe plant’s native environment by reducing how often you water, allowing the potting soil to dry out between each bout of watering, placing the aloe in 6 hours of morning sunlight, and ensuring the aloe is planted in a pot with drainage holes in the base.
I have personally observed how high temperatures can also contribute to an aloe plant turning brown if temperatures exceed their usual temperature range of 55°F-80°F (13°C-27°C) for an extended period of time.
Keep reading to learn how to identify why your aloe is turning brown and the steps I take to save aloes that are turning brown…
Why is My Aloe Leaves Turning Brown and Soft? (Overwatering)
- Symptoms. The aloe plant is turning brown with a soft, mushy texture.
- Causes. Overwatering, potting soil retains too much moisture, pots without drainage holes in their base, and saucers and trays that cause water to pool around the base of the pot.
The most common reason I see aloe plants turn brown is root rot due to overwatering and poor drainage. Aloe plants are adapted to tolerate drought, and you need the soil to dry out between each watering. If the soil stays saturated, the aloe plant develops root rot, which turns the leaves brown and soft.
To understand why your aloe is turning brown, I always find it helpful that we understand how aloe grows in their natural environment…
Aloe plants are drought resistant and have specifically adapted to growing in gritty, well-draining soil with infrequent rainfall and high temperatures in their native range parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
For use to grow our aloe plants successfully and to prevent them from turning brown and mushy with a drooping appearance, what we need to do is recreate some of the growing conditions of the aloe’s native environment by planting aloe in well-draining, gritty potting soil and allowing to soil to dry out between bouts of watering.
(Read my article, best potting soil for aloe plants).
As aloe plants are adapted to desert-like conditions and suffer in damp soil, watering aloe plants too often or planting them in normal potting soil (which retains too much moisture) are the most common reasons aloe plants turn brown, yellow, and soft. (It is a very easy mistake to make).
It is worth noting that when people come to me with dying brown aloes, I find that the potting soil can also be damp due to a lack of drainage holes in the base, which causes excess water to pool around the roots of the aloe plant.
If you do not empty saucers and trays underneath the aloe plant’s pot, then water can also pool around the base of the pot which prevents the potting soil from drying and promotes the conditions for rot, which turns the aloe plant brown and soft.
How to Save it…
- The first thing that I recommend you do is to scale back the watering. If you are watering aloe plants more than once per week, then you are overwatering, which is why the aloe plants turn brown and soft. My method for replicating the typical watering cycle in the aloe’s native environment is to allow the potting soil to dry out between each bout of watering. Typically, this means I water every 14 days, but this can depend on climate, the size of the pot, and the type of potting soil.
- Re-pot the aloe plant with ‘succulent and cacti’ potting soil. Even if you water your aloe plant with the right frequency, the truth is that your plant can still turn brown and mushy if the soil retains moisture around the roots for too long. What I do is repot my aloe with specially formulated, well-draining soil that emulates the soil conditions of the aloe’s natural environment. From my years of growing succulents, I can tell you with some authority that well-draining soil is the most significant factor in reducing the risk of aloe plants turning brown and soft.
- Plant aloe in pots with drainage holes in the base. I have tested different pots and found out that Aloe plants can grow in any pot as long as there are drainage holes in the base and the pot is proportionate to the size of the aloe. Good drainage is essential as the potting soil has to dry out between each watering to prevent the aloe from turning brown.
- Plant aloe in pots that are proportionate to the size of the plant. The larger the pot, the more soil and, therefore, the greater the capacity for retaining moisture, which causes the aloe to turn brown and soft. I have had the best results when I plant aloe in a pot around 1.5 inches larger on either side. This helps the potting soil dry more quickly to prevent root rot and brown, soft aloe plants. (Read my article, best pots for aloe vera).
Pro Tip: Whilst aloes can grow in any potting material, my favorites are terracotta and clay as these materials are porous and breathable. This allows the soil to dry out more evenly and mitigates the risk of root rot. I highly recommend you do this if your aloe is turning brown.
My tried and tested method for establishing how often I water aloe plants, is to feel the soil at the bottom of the pot through the drainage holes in the base. If the soil feels moist, then I delay watering for a few days. If the soil feels dry then this is the perfect time to water.
My method is the best way of effectively emulating the -deluge of rainfall, followed by drought- cycle of watering in the aloe plant’s native environment to avoid root rot.
(Read my article, how to water aloe vera, to learn how often to water aloe plants at different times of the year.
I must emphasize the importance of emptying saucers, trays before excess water pools around the base of your aloe pot and prevents water from effectively draining.
Once you have allowed the aloe’s soil to dry out completely, reduced the watering frequency, replaced the soil, and repotted your aloe, the aloe has a chance to revive, with the brown color subsiding over the following weeks.
If the aloe’s soft, mushy, brown area increases in size, then you need to cut that individual part of the aloe back to healthy growth with a sharp, sterile pair of pruners.
We do this because cutting away the soft brown or yellow rotting area of the aloe prevents the rot from spreading further.
I can assure you that the resulting wound calluses over in the following days, and your aloe plant can then begin to recover. What I find is that from experience, Aloe plants are more hardy than they are often given credit for, and cutting away rotting parts of the plant is often the best way to increase the chance of reviving your aloe.
Aloe plants with severe root rot…
Suppose the aloe plant is getting progressively more brown, soft, and mushy. In that case, another option (which can work in conjunction with cutting brown, mushy parts of the aloe) is to take cuttings from healthy tissue for propagation. I like this option as you can create more aloe plants for free!
Aloe plants propagate readily from leaf cuttings (succulents often spread from leaf and offsets in their native environment to form a new plant), which can be an easy, cheap, and fun way to save your aloe plants, particularly if the brown, soft, mushy rot appears to be severe and spreading.
Watch this helpful YouTube video for how to easily propagate aloe plants from cuttings to produce lots of extra plants at no extra cost (as long as you propagate from any remaining healthy tissue):
Why is My Aloe Plant Turning Brown? (Sun Burn)
- Symptoms. Leaves turn a scorched brown/yellow/reddish brown without any part of the aloe, feeling soft and mushy.
- Causes. Aloe plants can scorch in strong sunlight in Summer. Moving aloe plants from partial shade to full sun without acclimatizing the aloe can result in brown leaves due to sunburn.
Interestingly, aloe plants turning brown can be because of sunburn, which I realize may be surprising for a plant from such a hot climate. Aloe plants can often tolerate full sun, but the plant can turn brown and scorched if the aloe is moved suddenly from a relatively shaded and cool location to an area of full sun without a chance to adapt to a higher light intensity.
Of course, as we’ve discussed, most aloe plants cultivated as house plants (such as Aloe vera) are native to hot, sunny, and dry areas of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and thrive in sunny conditions.
Aloe plants typically prefer at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to grow to their best.
However, if you live in a climate with particularly intense sunlight (such as Arizona or Southern California, where I used to live), then what I found was that 6 hours of morning sun, followed by afternoon shade, is usually best to avoid sun burnt, brown aloe plants.
Aloe plants are very adaptable and adjust to certain indoor light conditions, even if it is lower than their optimal level of light.
However when the aloe plant is moved to a sunnier location or perhaps moved outside during Summer from a more shaded area to intense direct sunlight all day, the aloe plant can scorch a reddish brown color due to the sudden contrast in light intensity.
Aloe plants benefit from more gradual exposure to direct sunlight to prevent being scorched brown so they can acclimate to the higher light intensity.
My Tips for Saving an Aloe That is Turning Brown due to Sun Burn…`
Once the aloe has been scorched brown, I am afraid it does not return to its original appearance.
However, I have some best practices to be aware of that can prevent further damage and some solutions to improve the appearance of your aloe.
- I have learned it is key to always move aloe plants into full sun by gradually exposing them to more direct sunlight over 2 weeks. What you need to do is move the aloe into the sunny area for 20 minutes longer each day over the course of two weeks to give the aloe a chance to adjust to the higher levels of light intensity. Once they have acclimatized to more sun, you need to be aware that potting soil may also dry out much quicker, so what I recommend is to test the soil to detect when it is dry and give the potting soil a good soak once the soil has dried out.
- Whilst the first step is preventative, if the aloe has already turned brown from sunburn, move it to a location with morning sun followed by afternoon shade for protection. Do not deprive the aloe of sun completely, as this can also cause problems. The morning sun is less intense, and the temperatures are lower, which should help to revive the aloe.
- Brown aloe plants that have been scorched do not recover in appearance, but the plant should still live. Whilst the aloe is not necessarily in imminent danger, the sunburn section or leaf may dry out and fall off as it can no longer photosynthesize. What I do is cut any parts of the aloe that appear to dry out, back to healthy growth, which can help stimulate more growth.
If the majority of the aloe plant shows signs of sunburn to some degree, then I would recommend leaving the plant for a time to see if any new growth develops and then cut back any parts of the aloe plant that do not recover with a sharp, sterile pair of pruners, back to either healthy undamaged grow or the base or wherever is practical.
If this is not possible for your sun-damaged brown plant, then I would recommend trying to take a cutting from any remaining healthy tissue to propagate if the rest of the plant cannot be saved…
Why is My Aloe Plant Turning Brown at the Base?
- Symptoms. Leaves at the base of the aloe plant turn brown and crispy.
- Causes. Part of the life cycle of aloe plants is that lack of water or lack of sunlight can contribute to leaves turning brown at the base.
Aloe leaves turn brown at the base because the leaves naturally turn brown and crispy as the plant matures. The aloe redirects energy from supporting the older, lower leaves to promoting new growth further up the plant, which causes leaves at the base to turn brown and dry out.
This is a natural part of the aloe plant’s life cycle as the plant grows larger. It happens to all aloe plants, and it is part of the routine care that I had to check on an address when I was growing aloe plants for sale.
What happens in the wild is that the older leaves at the base of aloe often get shaded out as the plant grows larger, which means they have less available light for photosynthesizing and, therefore, cost the aloe plant more in energy than it contributes.
The lower leaves of the aloe plant usually turn brown and crispy and either fall off or can be gently pulled from the plant.
I had to cut them off with my pruners when supplying aloe plants to garden centers as part of quality control.
If the brown leaves still put up any resistance, I recommend leaving it for a few weeks rather than using force, which could damage the plant.
If the aloe plant is leggy (growing very tall and spindly) and the leaves at the base are turning brown and dying, then your problem is that the aloe does not have enough light.
As we discussed, aloe plants typically require around 6 hours of direct light per day. In shaded areas the aloe plant sacrifices the lower leaves and promotes growth to search for more light, which results in a leggy appearance.
Underwatering can also be a contributing factor.
Even though aloe plants are adapted to tolerate drought, they still require a really good soak so that excess water trickles from the pot’s base (to ensure the water reaches the roots) when it is time to water.
What I find happens is that people make the mistake of watering too lightly, then only the top inch or so of the soil is moistened, and the water does not actually reach the aloe’s roots, resulting in dry brown leaves.
My Tips for Aloes with Brown Leaves at the Base…
- If the aloe occasionally has brown, crispy leaves at the base of the plant, then from my experience, there is nothing to worry about. As the aloe plant grows, the lower leaves turn brown and crispy. I just gently remove any crispy brown leaves at the bottom of the plant, but I must caution against forcing any off as this can damage the aloe unnecessarily. As I said, I had to trim them back with pruners in my job, which worked well.
- If the aloe is leggy and the leaves turn brown, it needs more light. What you need to do is relocate your aloe plant to a sunnier location over the course of 2 weeks. Aloe plants need time to acclimate to more intense light (otherwise, they can scorch), so my advice is to move the plant to a sunny spot for 20 or so minutes longer each day. After about 2 weeks the aloe should have acclimated to the sunnier location without burning. If the aloe is very leggy, consider taking cuttings for propagation, as aloe propagates easily.
- Always water aloe plants with a generous soak. What I want you to do is water the aloe thoroughly so that excess water trickles from the base of the pot to ensure that the potting soil is evenly moist and the water has infiltrated the soil. This prevents the drought stress that can contribute to dry, crispy leaves. Water generously at the base of the pot when the soil feels dry. I always feel the soil through the drainage hole in the pot’s base to detect when the soil is dry, then thoroughly water it.
Aloe Turning Brown After Repotting?
- Symptoms. Aloe leaves turning brown and soft.
- Causes. Root rot due to repotting aloe in potting soil that retains too much moisture, pots without drainage holes in the base, or water pooling around the pot’s base.
I see this problem come up a lot, and whenever someone asks me about this, my first instinct is to check when soil the aloe has been repotted into.
This is because the reason they turn brown is usually that they are repotted in soil that retains too much moisture. Aloe plants are drought-resistant and need the soil to dry out between each watering. Potting soil that stays damp for too long results in root rot, which causes brown and soft aloe leaves.
Aloe plants grow naturally in well-draining, gravelly soils that are particularly porous and do not retain much moisture with infrequent rainfall.
Aloe plants require the potting soil to dry out between bouts of watering.
The problem that I see comes up with people repotting aloe plants using ordinary potting soil (rather than specially formulated succulent and cacti soil), as it stays moist for too long for the aloe plant to tolerate.
Another common problem I see people have of aloe plants turning brown after repotting is due to the new pot not having drainage holes in their base, which causes water to pool around the roots and causes root rot.
As you can imagine, this desert dweller hates wet feet and quickly turns brown as a result.
I would also remember that saucers and trays underneath aloe pots can also cause excess water to pool around the bottom of the pot and cause the aloe to turn brown and soft.
My Tips for Reviving an Aloe Plant Turning Brown After Repotting…
- Scale back the watering. Aloe plants require the soil to dry out between bouts of watering, so any additional water is going to exacerbate the problem.
- Re-pot your aloe with ‘succulent and cacti’ potting soil. Specially formulated succulent and cacti soil is made specifically for succulents such as aloe plants. The specially formulated soil recreates the soil conditions of the aloe plants’ native environment with good drainage and retains less moisture than ordinary potting soil.
- Re-pot the aloe to a pot with drainage holes in the base. Aloe plants should be in a pot that is proportionate to the size of the aloe (very large pots contain more soil and can hold too much moisture for aloe plants). Un-glazed ceramic terracotta pots are my favorites as they are porous, which allows the soil to dry out more evenly. Drainage holes in the pot’s base are essential to allow water to drain freely to avoid root rot.
- Empty saucers and trays of water regularly. As soon as you see any water pooling around the pot’s base in a saucer or tray, empty it so that water can drain properly from the pot and the soil can dry out properly between bouts of watering.
Pro tip: I personally don’t have a problem with any of my succulents since I used the succulent and cacti soil. You can even get away with overwatering your aloe as the drainage is so good. I really recommend it if you always have problems with your succulents. It is a game-changer!
How long it takes for the aloe to revive depends on how long it has been stressed due to too much water, but you should start to see improvements in the following weeks.
Once the soil has had a chance to dry out and the aloe is in the right soil, the brown, mushy section should decrease in size, and the aloe can recover.
However, if the brown, mushy area of the aloe increases in size, then cut the rotten section out with a sharp, sterile pair of pruners back to healthy growth or back to the base of the plant to prevent the rot from spreading further.
The wound should be callus over in a few days, and the aloe can start to recover.
However, to hedge your bets, what I would consider doing in this scenario is to take cuttings of stems or leaves for propagation from any healthy tissue, as this is a great way to save an aloe plant if it has been significantly affected by water stress and the aloe does not appear to be improving in condition.
Why Are My Aloe Leaf Tips Turning Brown?
- Symptoms. The leaf tips of the aloe plant turn brown and crispy. Sometimes, the leaf tips turn brown.
- Causes. Increase in temperature, humidity decrease, light intensity, and underwatering.
My aloe plant leaf tips have turned brown because of a combination of sudden increase in temperature, sunlight, a decrease in humidity, and underwatering. Aloe plants tolerate high temperatures, full sun, and low humidity, but it is when conditions contrast suddenly this is when I find that the leaf tips turn brown.
Of course, aloe plants are adapted to living in dry, hot, and sunny climates, so they often grow well in our homes which tend to have low humidity and high temperatures due to central heating.
However, aloe plants can adapt somewhat to the conditions they are living in, even if the conditions are not optimal with less light, some humidity, and average temperatures which are outside the typical preferred range of the aloe plant.
Brown tips on aloe plants occur because of a sudden change in conditions, which can cause the aloe to lose more moisture from the leaves (transpiration) than they are used to.
I had seen this happen to people in hot climates when I lived in Southern California when the aloe plant had been moved outdoors for the Summer or because the aloe had been moved to a different area of the house with full sun or next to indoor heating, which can sap moisture from the air and dry the soil very quickly.
I saw this happen to all the outdoor aloes and succulents in my area when there was a sudden heat wave, and all the leaf tips turned brown.
Aloe plants are hardy in the face of hot and dry conditions but typically need some time to acclimate to different climatic conditions rather than a sudden and drastic change.
Not watering often enough or watering too lightly, can also cause the aloe leaves to turn thin and brown.
The leaves turn thin as the aloe draws moisture reserves stored in the succulent leaves, with the brown leaf tips indicating drought stress. (Read my article on how to tell if your aloe is overwatered or underwatered).
The good news is aloe plants often recover from brown leaf tips once they have had a chance to adjust, but there are some best practices and solutions to be aware of…
How I Revive My Aloe Plant with Brown Leaf Tips…
- Give the aloe a generous soak. If the aloe plants have brown leaf tips, it is often because of higher temperatures, more sunlight, and lower humidity, all of which increase a plant’s demand for water, so I had to water my aloe more often. Give the aloe plants a generous soak so that excess water tickles from the pot’s base. This ensures that the moisture has reached the roots where it is required. I still checked to see when the soil dried out by feeling the soil through the drainage holes at the base. If the soil is still damp, I delay watering (to avoid root rot). When the soil is dry, give the aloe a thorough watering.
- Gradually expose the aloe to higher intensity of sunlight if you are moving your aloe outdoors for the Summer . I move my aloe to a sunnier location for 20 minutes more each day for about 2 weeks to give the aloe a chance to adjust to the higher light intensity. This prevents the aloe scorching and decreases the stress that contributes to the leaf tips turning brown.
- In particularly sunny climates, locate aloe plants in 6 hours of morning sun followed by afternoon shade. I had to move my aloe from my south facing window during the scorching Summers when I lived in Southern California as the sun was too intense. In the morning sun, my aloe can benefit from the sun whilst the temperatures are cooler without tolerating higher temperatures at midday and the afternoon.
- Move the aloe away from any sources of indoor heat to alleviate brown tips. Indoor heat decreases humidity and can dry out the soil too quickly which can contribute to the aloe leaf tips turning brown.
Should I Cut the Brown Leaf Tips off my Aloe Plant?
As a general rule, do not cut brown leaf tips off an aloe plant. The brown leaf tips are a reaction to a sudden contrast in conditions such as light and temperature. Once the aloe has adjusted to the new conditions, the brown leaf tips often restore their green appearance, although this is not always the case.
Once you have addressed any problems or adverse conditions of the aloe’s environment, I have seen the leaf tips turn green again of their own accord without having to remove them.
If the conditions are favorable, the leaf tips should take several weeks to restore to their appearance. It is also worth noting brown leaf tips tend to recover quicker when the aloe is in active growth and much more slowly if the aloe is dormant (due to low light levels in Winter).
Dormancy of aloe plants can also occur in Summer if the temperatures are particularly high, and the aloe often stops growing as a way to conserve moisture.
Cutting back the brown tips of your aloe plant with a sharp, sterile pair of pruners does not necessarily harm the plant and can be a way to improve the aloe’s appearance quickly.
If the leaf tips are brown and mushy, then this is usually a result of overwatering; in this case, you should remove the leaf back to healthy growth with a sharp, sterile pair of pruners.
(To learn more about how to save aloe plants, read the article, why is my aloe plant dying?)
Key Takeaways:
- Aloe plants turn brown and soft because of root rot due to overwatering and poor drainage. Aloe plants need the soil to dry out between each bout of watering. Soil that is consistently saturated promotes the conditions for root rot and fungal disease, which turns the aloe leaves brown with a mushy texture.
- Aloe plants can turn brown due to intense sunlight. Aloe plants can often grow in full sun. However, they need time to adjust to an increase in light intensity. If an aloe plant is moved from partial light to full sun without enough time to acclimatize, the aloe leaves can scorch a reddish brown.
- Aloe leaves naturally turn brown and crispy at the base as the plant matures. This is a normal process and does not indicate the plant is dying. Sometimes, the leaves at the base can turn brown due to underwatering or a lack of light.
- Aloe plants turn brown after repotting because the aloe is repotted into potting soil that retains too much moisture for the aloe to tolerate. Aloe plants require the soil to dry out between each watering. If the potting soil remains damp, the aloe plant leaves turn brown and soft due to root rot.
- Aloe plant leaves turn brown at the tips because of a sudden contrast in light, temperature, humidity, or underwatering. If aloe plants are moved into full sun, the temperature suddenly increases, or the humidity lowers significantly, the aloe leaf tips turn brown as a reaction to the sudden change in conditions. Underwatering can also cause aloe leaf tips to turn brown.
- To save an aloe with brown, soft leaves, use a sterile pair of pruners to cut the affected leaf back to healthy growth to prevent the brown rot from spreading. Scale back the watering and allow the soil to dry out between bouts of watering to increase the chance of the aloe reviving.