Why Is My Aloe Plant Turning Brown? Causes and Fixes
Your aloe plant is turning brown because of water, light, or temperature stress. Dry, crispy brown tips usually mean underwatering. Brown and soft or mushy leaves near the base point to overwatering and root rot. A reddish-brown color across the leaves is sun stress, which fades back to green in softer light. Brown spots can mean sunburn or a fungal disease, and only the lowest leaves browning is normal aging.
Below are 11 reasons why your aloe vera plant is turning brown, how to tell them apart, which brown leaves can turn green again, and how to save an aloe plant before it’s too late. If you see spots you can’t explain, check the leaf with our plant disease identifier.
All Reasons Why Aloe Plant Is Turning Brown
The most common reasons an aloe vera plant turns brown are overwatering, underwatering, the wrong amount of light, too much fertilizer, cold damage, and old age. Overwatering is the most likely cause: aloe’s thick leaves already store water, so soggy soil quickly leads to root rot. Light can cause trouble in both directions. Too little light makes aloe pale, floppy, and weak, while sudden harsh sun can scorch the leaves brown. According to a University of Maryland Extension horticulturist, too much light is rare for indoor succulents, but accidental overwatering is common, so check soil moisture and light first. To find the real cause, look at where the browning appears: on the tips, in spots, at the base, or across the whole leaf.
Brown Spots on Aloe Plant Leaves
An aloe vera plant turning brown can happen without notice, so it’s important to be able to figure out how you can narrow down what might be causing the aloe vera browning to develop so you can put an end to that issue quickly and without further damage to your plant.
Underwatering
Browned, dried tips will occur on the aloe vera stalks of a dehydrated plant. Aloe plant brown tips can’t be rehydrated once they’ve browned, though if you catch the issue in time you can hydrate your plant so more discolored tips don’t develop. Water only when the soil has dried completely, and hydrate the soil well to ensure the entire root system is able to get a drink. Generally, if you struggle with watering at the right time, err on the side of underwatering, especially for succulent plants, as this is much easier for you to help your plant recover from than overwatering, which can easily be a death sentence for water-holding plants.
Sun Stress
Too much sun can lead to aloe vera leaves turning brown or even a bleach-like color. If the leaves have begun to brown due to a lot of sun, this normally isn’t an issue; you may even notice a more reddish hue to the color, indicating your plant is producing more anthocyanins and carotenoids under the intense heat than chlorophyll. If nothing else about your plant is off (such as weak, softened leaves or drying leaves) then there isn’t much to worry about here, and you can move your plant to a less sunny location if you prefer the green color.
Sunburn
Sunburn will appear as a dark brown or bleached color in spots on the leaves. This can be remedied by moving your plant to a less sunny location, or by providing it with shade from the afternoon sun every day for the spring and summer months. No further action is needed for sunburnt aloes; the leaves will not heal but new growth will emerge undamaged if not exposed to excess sun any longer.
Disease
Aloe plant brown spots are often a sign of a pathogen or disease. Diseases such as anthracnose can cause spotty brown coloration on your aloe, though other diseases such as rust can be ruled out as this isn’t common for aloe plants and also has a more reddish-orange coloration than other fungal diseases. This can be easily fixed using a fungicidal product, applied according to the manufacturer’s label. Prevention for diseases usually starts with proper plant hygiene and ensuring your plant has sufficient air circulation so excess humidity and moisture don’t get trapped between the aloe’s leaves.
Pests
Like diseases, pests can cause brown or spotty discoloration to the leaves. Pests will often infest plants that are already declining in health, so if your plant hasn’t been doing too hot and then you see a severe downturn, pests (or disease) are likely the issue. To get rid of pests on an aloe plant, you’ll have to try to dislodge as many pests as you can (under a heavy infestation) before applying a treatment spray, like neem oil, on your plant following the manufacturer’s directions on the label. Prevention of pests starts with keeping your plant healthy and maintaining good plant hygiene: prompt removal of dead or diseased leaves, keeping your plant well-hydrated as needed, and ensuring your plant has proper drainage are all good steps in keeping your plant healthy and pest and disease free!
Excess Fertilizer
Aloes are not very hungry or thirsty plants, so if you find yourself fertilizing it regularly, this can be the cause of your aloe vera browning. Damage done by excess fertilizer is in the form of salt formation around the roots, which can hinder your plant’s ability to uptake and transport water, leading to browning. Leaching the soil using distilled or rainwater in twice the volume of your pot, but in water, can help dislodge some of these build-ups and flush them out the drainage hole of your plant’s pot. Refrain from using fertilizer, or if you do, use only once a year during the growing season in a dilute amount. Alternatively, instead of fertilizing consider just repotting once every two years to replenish the nutrients your plant receives from its soil. This will benefit your aloe by giving it more room to grow as well as the nutrients it needs to do so, and will also help you narrow down potential issues by knowing it’s not due to nutrition or your plant being root bound.
Aloe Vera Browning Stems
If your aloe turned brown along the stems then this could raise an alarm bell and lead you to troubleshoot the possible reasons. Fortunately, there’s a lot that can be told by looking at your plant and becoming your own plant detective:
Overwatering
Browning stems are typically more concerning to see in a plant like aloe, as this often indicates an overwatering issue, especially if it’s accompanied by a mushy texture. This can be fixed by adjusting watering, or in severe cases, removing any rotted roots and squishy leaves from the plant before repotting in a fresh soil mix. Always use sterile tools when removing rotting or dead tissue and sanitize between cuts. If your plant’s main stem is soft, this is a sign the rot has spread completely throughout your plant and is unfortunately not salvageable. You can start over again with a new aloe, ensuring you’ve got it in the right soil, and be a bit less frequent with the waterings.
Low Light
Poor light for a plant that thrives in direct, bright light can lead to yellow or pale leaf coloration as well as thin or spindly leaf development, as this indicates your plant is reaching out for the light. Fixing this issue and preventing it are done the same way: be sure your plant has access to bright, direct light for at least 6 hours per day. South-facing windows are good for this, though you can also give it some intense afternoon light by putting it a few feet away from a west-facing window.
Poorly Draining Soil or Lack of Drainage Hole
If all other parameters are in place but you’re still seeing discoloration, the answer to “why is my aloe plant turning brown” could be poor soil or a lack of adequate drainage. Roots need airflow and oxygen to breathe, so if the soil isn’t allowing for the water to be effectively wicked up by the roots, you might find that the aloe’s roots aren’t getting the air they need, and are suffocating. This is the same mechanism that happens with overwatering: suffocation of plant roots will lead to foliage damage. To fix this, repot your plant in a well-draining soil mix and ensure your pot has a drainage hole. Cactus/succulent mixes added in coarse sand are a good soil mix for aloes. Use this type of soil and pots with drainage holes to prevent the lack of drainage issues in the first place.
Cold Damage
An aloe turning brown after a cold night is not unheard of. unfortunately. This can come on suddenly if you’re not prepared, as aloes are usually only hardy to around 40℉. Unprotected plants will look dark brown or black and have softened, mushy leaves that will often flop over completely. The cold damage cannot be repaired, but plants that have been exposed should be brought inside to a warm area immediately. A completely frozen plant is unlikely to be revived, though frost-damaged plants can be pruned of their wilting leaves and be tended to with patience. To prevent this type of damage, bring potted aloe plants indoors during the winter, or protect in-ground plants heavily with horticultural fleece or blankets when the weather is below 50∘F (10∘C).
Old Age
If you find yourself concerned over an aloe leaf turning brown, you may find comfort in knowing it could be from old age. The lower (older) leaves will turn yellow or brown and dry out completely when they’ve served for as long as the plant needed, and will naturally be used and then shed to make way for new growth. This will occur throughout the life of the plant, so if it’s older leaves only and there are no other issues that seem to be going on with your aloe, you can be confident it’s just your plant’s natural aging process.
Can Brown Aloe Turn Green Again?
The only instance a browned aloe vera may turn green again is if the brown or reddish color is due to sun stress. Other forms of damage from overwatering or burn damage kill off cells and tissue entirely, so there is no reversing a brown aloe vera leaf back to green if the damage was caused by anything other than natural sunstress. You can improve the appearance of an aloe vera plant with browned leaves by removing the leaves and addressing the issue that caused it to brown in the first place. Once these parameters are in check (water, light, and proper drainage) your aloe should have no issue putting out healthy, green new growth.
Keep in mind sunburn and sun stress are different: sunburn usually looks brownish or bleached in appearance, and will wind up looking dry and crisp. Sun stress often results in reddish or reddish-brown coloration; there will not be any severe drying or crisping in this case, and the color will fade back to green over time when placed under less bright, direct light. Although “stress” is in the name, it doesn’t cause any damage to your plant; when exposed to lots of bright light, plants will produce different pigments than chlorophyll to produce different shades.
How to Get Your Aloe Vera Green Again?
You can get your aloe vera back to its natural green shade again if the plant has been under a lot of bright, direct light recently or if it’s been dehydrated or sick with a pest or disease, though if you find your aloe vera plant turning brown and soft, there is likely not much that can be done to save it. Otherwise, here’s what you can do to help:
For Sun-Stressed Plants
You can remove your plant from the area where it gets a lot of bright, direct light and relocate it to a more indirectly lit location, or somewhere that gets shade in the afternoon. For plants in the ground, you can use an umbrella to shade your plant during the hottest, brightest parts of the day. Or, since this type of stress isn’t causing harm to your plant, you can embrace its warm summer colors and look forward to it turning green later in the fall season.
For Underwatered Plants
Browning, drying leaves and tips of aloe plants will not revert back to green, though you can help your plant not turn brown again by hydrating it as needed, which is typical once the soil has dried completely through and the leaves begin to show the slightest sign of wrinkling. In severe cases, completely dried leaves can be removed from the base of the plant, either by gently tugging on the dried leaf or by removing it with clean scissors. Maintain a good watering routine with your plant and new leaves will emerge green and healthy.
For Plants with Pest Issues or Diseases
As is the case with dehydrated plants, damaged, browned leaves won’t revert back to green, but treating the issue (pest or disease) and removing the damaged leaves can help improve the appearance of your plant, making it look much healthier and green!
FAQ
Why are the tips of my aloe plant turning brown?
The tips of an aloe plant turn brown mostly from underwatering, but also from too much fertilizer or harsh sun. Brown tips won’t turn green again. Water deeply only when the soil is completely dry, and new leaves will grow healthy.
Why is my aloe plant turning brown and soft?
An aloe plant turning brown and soft is usually overwatered and starting to rot. Stop watering, remove the plant from its pot, and cut away mushy roots and leaves with clean tools. If the main stem is soft, the aloe can’t be saved.
Why is my aloe plant turning brown at the base?
An aloe plant turning brown at the base usually has root or stem rot from wet soil or a pot without drainage holes. Repot it in a cactus and succulent mix with coarse sand, in a pot with a drainage hole.
Can a brown aloe plant turn green again?
A brown aloe plant can turn green again only if the browning is reddish sun stress. Leaves browned by overwatering, underwatering, sunburn, cold, or disease stay brown, but the aloe will grow new green leaves once you fix the cause.
Can aloe turn brown from too much sun?
Yes, aloe can turn reddish-brown from too much sun. This sun stress is harmless and fades in softer light. Dry, bleached, or crispy brown patches are sunburn instead, and those leaves won’t recover.
Should you cut off brown aloe leaves?
Yes, cut off aloe leaves that are brown from rot, disease, or dryness, using clean scissors at the base near the stem. Leave sun-stressed reddish leaves alone, because they protect the plant and will turn green again.
How do you save a dying aloe plant?
To save a dying aloe plant, check that at least half the roots are firm and the central stem is solid. Trim rotted roots and leaves, repot in dry succulent mix, give it 6 hours of bright light, and water only when the soil is dry.
How often should you water an aloe plant?
Water an aloe plant only when the soil has dried out completely, usually every 2–3 weeks in spring and summer and about once a month in winter. Slightly wrinkled leaves are a sign the aloe needs water.
Does aloe vera need direct sunlight?
Aloe vera grows best with at least 6 hours of bright, direct sunlight a day, such as near a south- or west-facing window. Too little light makes aloe pale, floppy, and leggy, while sudden harsh sun can scorch it.
