Aloe vera plants and other aloe varieties are beautiful succulents for any plant owner. With good light, proper drainage, and moderate temperatures, they’re low-maintenance and need very little care.
Then the leaves start to turn brown. Brown spots or brown tips can show up for a handful of reasons, and if nothing changes, the browning can spread. Before long you may be wondering whether your aloe is dying.
Take a breath. The usual causes are a short list, and most have simple fixes.
Why Is My Aloe Plant Turning Brown?
Brown tips and edges are a sign of stress. According to Missouri Botanical Garden, the usual triggers on indoor plants include low humidity, too much fertilizer or other soluble salts, poor water quality, overwatering, underwatering, pesticides, and direct sunlight. For aloes, work through this list:
- Too much water, or poor drainage. Aloes are extremely drought tolerant and prone to root rot, so Penn State Extension says never to let the plant sit in water. A pot that’s too big can also hold too much moisture and lead to root rot, according to UF/IFAS.
- Too little water. Underwatering is on the list too. That’s why the fix is to water thoroughly, but only once the soil has dried.
- Fertilizer salts. Too much fertilizer builds up soluble salts in the soil, which can brown leaf tips.
- Chemicals. Pesticides can cause browning, so think about anything you’ve sprayed on or near the plant.
- Sudden sun. An aloe can sunburn when it moves from low light to bright light too quickly, says UF/IFAS. Aloe gel may soothe sunburned skin, but the leaves themselves can sunburn too.
- Cold. Aloes are not frost tolerant, and Missouri Botanical Garden gives 40°F as the winter minimum.
- Pests and disease. NC State Extension lists mealybugs as aloe vera’s common insect problem and sooty mold as its common disease problem, so rule those out too.
Seeing brown tips on other houseplants too? Our guide to why houseplant leaves turn brown covers the water-quality side.
What Damage Does Browning Cause?
- Overwatering is the one to act on fast. Sitting in wet soil leads to root rot, and University of Arizona Cooperative Extension calls overwatering combined with poorly drained soil one of the most serious problems for aloes, agaves, cacti, and yuccas.
- Underwatering over a long stretch makes leaves shrivel. That’s why Penn State Extension says to keep the soil barely moist through winter, so the leaves don’t shrivel.
- Sunburn damages the leaf surface. In succulents, sunburned tissue turns yellow, then straw-colored, and dies, according to the same University of Arizona bulletin.
- Freezing shows up first as blackened tissue that later dries out and turns crisp, per the same bulletin. That damage can’t be repaired, but unless the freeze was long or severe it’s often only cosmetic, and the plant grows out of it.
How To Treat And Prevent Browning In Aloe Plants
If too much or too little water is the problem, the fixes are simple.
Repotting Checklist
- Check the root ball. Remove any dead or mushy roots.
- Remove the old soil and any damaged leaves.
- Repot in a cactus or succulent mix, or mix your own: one part potting soil, one part sand, and one part perlite or lava rock, as Penn State Extension suggests.
- Use a pot with large drainage holes, and go up only a size or two. A pot that’s too big holds too much moisture.
- Replant about every two years to refresh the soil and keep the roots from getting crowded.
Watering
- Water only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Push a finger into the soil to check.
- When you water, water well and let the excess drain out. Never leave the pot sitting in water.
- From early spring to early fall, water thoroughly whenever the soil surface is dry.
- From fall through winter, cut back so the soil is barely moist and the leaves don’t shrivel.
Check out these aloe care tips: When and How To Water Aloe Plants and How To Revive A Dying Aloe Plant.
Light and Temperature
- Aloes grow best in full to partial sun. Indoors, a spot near a sunny window with bright light works well.
- Change light gradually. Moving an aloe outdoors or into stronger light over a period of weeks helps prevent sunburn.
- If a leaf is getting scorched, move the plant to a spot with less intense sun, but still bright light.
- Keep it above 40°F in winter, and bring outdoor plants in before nights dip below 50°F.
Conclusion
Prevent brown spots on your aloe by:
- Watering only when the top inch of soil is dry
- Planting it in fast-draining soil, in a pot with drainage holes
- Keeping it above 40°F and out of frost
- Giving it bright light, and changing its light gradually
If brown spots do show up, don’t panic. Simple fixes can nip the problem in the bud before it becomes a real issue. What turned out to be the culprit on yours? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my aloe vera have brown tips?
Brown tips are a stress signal. The usual causes are too little water, too much water, fertilizer salts building up in the soil, sudden sun, or cold. Check the soil first. If it’s soggy or the pot doesn’t drain, treat it as overwatering and check the roots. If the soil is bone dry and the leaves are shriveling, water thoroughly.
Why is my aloe plant turning brown and soft?
A brown, soft aloe often means the roots are sitting in too much water. Aloes are prone to root rot, and overwatering combined with poorly drained soil is one of the most serious problems for succulents. Tip the plant out of its pot and check the roots. Trim any that are dead or mushy, then repot in fast-draining succulent mix in a pot with drainage holes.
Why is my aloe turning brown after repotting?
Two things are worth checking. First, a pot that’s too big holds extra moisture and can lead to root rot, so the new pot should be only a size or two larger and must drain freely. Second, a move into much brighter light can sunburn an aloe that was used to low light, so let it adjust gradually.
How often should I water an aloe plant?
There’s no calendar answer. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, then water well and let it drain. In the growing season, from early spring to early fall, that means a thorough soak whenever the soil surface dries. From fall through winter, cut back so the soil stays barely moist. Our guide to watering aloe plants has more.
Can I put my aloe outside for the summer, and how cold is too cold?
Yes, but do it gradually, because a plant used to low light can sunburn in full sun. Keep it out of heavy rain, and bring it back in before nights dip below 50°F. Aloes are not frost tolerant, and the winter minimum is about 40°F. Freeze-damaged succulents typically turn black first, then dry out and turn crisp.