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Revive a dying aloe vera plant with these simple strategies
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When your aloe vera plant starts drooping, getting mushy leaves, or turning yellow and brown, it’s time to change up your plant care regimen . Over or underwatering, root rot, sunburn, pests, and temperature changes are some of the most common reasons your aloe plant might start to wilt or die. If your plant looks a little under the weather, don’t lose hope! We'll give you the essential knowledge you need to diagnose the problem and get your plant looking fresh and healthy again.
How do you revive a dead aloe plant?
If your aloe looks like it’s dying, you may be over or underwatering it. Aloe plants typically need to be watered every 2 weeks (for indoor plants) or every 3-4 weeks (for outdoor plants). Any more or less than this can cause damage, so try to stick to this schedule to revive your plant and keep it healthy.
Steps
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Examine the leaves. As a succulent, aloe vera plants store water in their leaves. If the leaves are yellow, brown, or swollen, you’re likely dealing with overwatering . If you notice the leaves are puckering, shriveling, dropping off, or becoming almost transparent, your plant likely needs water. [1] X Research source
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Check the soil moisture. You can tell if your aloe vera plant needs to be watered by pressing your index finger a few inches down into the soil. If the soil is dry, your plant likely needs more moisture, so go ahead and water it. If the soil is very moist or water is pooling on the top, you’re likely overwatering your plant. Wait until the soil is thoroughly dried out before watering the plant again, and make sure to do this between each watering session in the future. [3] X Research source
- Remember, aloe vera plants are succulents and do not need to be watered often. Overwatering can actually kill your plant! [4] X Research source
- If you keep your plant outside, watering every two weeks should be sufficient.
- If you keep your plant inside, water it every three to four weeks.
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Only water until the soil is just moist. Water should never sit on top of the surface of the soil, so water with a light hand. [5] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source Continue to check your plant weekly or bi-weekly by testing the soil to see if it's dry. Remember to let the top third of the soil dry out completely between waterings. [6] X Research source
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Modify your watering schedule according to the season. Aloe vera plants need more water in the warmer months, but less in the cooler months. Water less often in fall and winter, especially if your plant lives in a cool space. [7] X Research source
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Remove the aloe vera plant from its current pot. One of the typical reasons for aloe vera plant death is root rot. If you see mushy brown leaves but don’t suspect overwatering, start by taking the plant out of its pot . [8] X Research source
- Loosely hold the base of the plant and the bottom of your pot. Tip the pot upside down, and continue holding the plant with your other hand. Hit the bottom of the pot with your hand or knock it against a table ledge (or other hard surface).
- Depending on the size of your plant, you may need another person to help you. One person should hold the plant base with both hands, while the other person tips the pot upside down and hits the bottom. Jostle the pot back and forth until the plant comes loose.
- If you still have trouble removing your plant with two sets of hands, run a trowel or knife around the interior of the pot and try releasing it again, or push some of the soil out through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
- If your plant still does not come out of the pot, you may need to break your pot.
- While releasing the aloe vera plant from its pot, hold (don’t pull) the plant gently. Hitting the bottom of the pot will keep your roots intact, and gravity will push the plant downward.
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Remove unhealthy roots with a sharp, sterilized knife or pruners. Examine the roots and determine how many of them are still healthy. Mushy roots are characteristic of root rot, so these will need to be removed. Any roots that aren’t black or mushy are likely still good, so you can leave them on the plant. [9] X Research source
- If you see a lot of healthy roots and only a section of dead or mushy roots, you can likely save your plant without too much trouble.
- If you notice that the majority of your plant has damaged roots, it will take a little more effort to save the plant, and it may even be beyond saving.
- In this case, you can try to save the plant by removing the largest leaves with a knife, cutting away about half of the plant. This method is risky, but with fewer leaves to nourish, the small amount of undamaged roots may be able to better direct nutrients throughout the plant. [10] X Research source
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Choose a pot that is one-third larger than the root system. Any excess soil will hold water and could cause root rot in the future, so a smaller pot is better than a larger one. [11] X Research source
- The roots of aloe vera plants grow horizontally, rather than vertically. [12] X Research source Aloe vera plants can also become quite heavy, and the weight of the plant can cause a narrow pot to tip over. Thus, it’s better to select a wide pot, rather than a deep or narrow pot. [13] X Research source
- The pot you choose should also have plenty of drainage holes on the bottom, so that excess water does not sit in the soil. [14] X Research source
- A plastic pot is best if you live in a dryer climate, while a pot made from terracotta or clay is best for cooler or humid areas. [15] X Research source
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Use a potting soil that’s suitable for cactus or succulents. This type of soil has a higher sand content and produces a well-draining environment for your plant. You can easily find suitable soil for aloe vera at your local garden center. [16] X Research source
- You can also create your own soil mix for your aloe vera plant by mixing equal parts of sand, gravel or perlite, and soil. [17] X Research source
- If you try this, be sure to use a coarse sand (like builder’s sand), rather than a fine sand. Fine sand can clump and hold water, rather than allowing it to drain down and through the pot. [18] X Research source
- Although you can use regular potting soil for aloe vera plants, they will thrive better in a mixed soil. Potting soil is more likely to hold moisture and could therefore cause root rot.
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Replant your aloe vera. Prepare the pot by filling it with the potting soil mixture, and shake your aloe vera plant gently to remove about a third of the soil that has attached itself to the root ball. [19] X Research source Place your plant in the newly prepared pot and cover the top with more of the potting soil mixture. Be sure that the entire root ball is covered with the soil mixture, but don't bury the plant deeper than it was in the first pot.
- You can also layer small rocks or gravel on the top of the soil, which helps reduce the evaporation of water.
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Do not water immediately after repotting. Your aloe vera plant needs a few days to readjust to its new pot and to repair any broken roots.
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Remove dead leaves . With a sharp, sterilized knife or pruners, cut each dead leaf away from the plant at the base. Any leaves that are dead take nutrients from other parts of the plant, so be sure to remove them so that the rest of your plant doesn’t suffer. [22] X Research source
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Reposition your plant. Move your plant to a place where it receives indirect light, rather than bright, direct sunlight. [23] X Research source If your plant typically receives artificial light rather than sunlight, reposition it so that there’s a greater distance between the plant and the light source.
- If you’d like to move your plant from an indoor location to an outdoor location, expose it to more and more sunlight gradually to avoid shocking it with too much direct light.
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Water your plant. Check the soil and determine if your plant needs to be watered. If your aloe plant is getting too much sun, the water in the soil is likely evaporating too quickly as well, and the plant may be suffering from heat stress. [24] X Research source
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Check your aloe plant for bugs and pests. If your aloe plant looks like it’s dying, pests like aphids or mealy bugs may be to blame. As these pests feed, they can damage the plant and cause leaves to die or turn yellow. [25] X Research source If you notice webs or small insects crawling on the leaves of your plant, pests may be your issue. [26] X Research source
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Wash pests off your plant with a clean, wet cloth. Or, if you prefer, fill a spray bottle with water and mist the plant then wipe the water off with a dry cloth. This will remove any webbing or bugs that may be present on the leaves. Doing this on a periodic basis can help control pest populations on your plant and keep it healthy. [27] X Research source
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If your aloe plant has aloe mites (Eriophyid mites), throw it away. Unfortunately, the damage caused by the Eriophyid mite, also called the aloe mite, is irreversible. To identify an aloe mite infestation, look for abnormal, disfigured growths on the plant, called “galls.” These galls form when aloe mites inject a chemical into the plant tissues, causing them to grow abnormally. [28] X Research source
- If you see these growths, your aloe plant has been infested by this specific mite, and you’ll likely need to throw it away so the infestation doesn’t spread to other plants you may have.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionThe leaves of my aloe vera plant are no longer fleshy and succulent but thin. The lower leaves are drooping. Should I cut the plant above the drooping leaves and will it form new roots from where I cut the main stem?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.It sounds like your plant needs more water. Try watering more often, and don't cut any leaves off.
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QuestionMy aloe was very healthy but now its leaves are shriveling up like there is no pulp inside. How can I save it?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.Check the roots to see if you have root rot. If so, remove rotten roots and treat as described in the article.
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Tips
- Instead of snapping off leaves when you want to use the aloe for medicinal purposes, cut the leaves at the base with a sharp knife where it meets the soil. The plant will heal itself better from a more precise cut.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/aloe-vera/infos
- ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/cacti-succulents/houseplants/growing-guide
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera
- ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://smartgardenguide.com/root-rot/
- ↑ https://houseplantcentral.com/caring-for-aloe-vera/
- ↑ http://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/aloe#rootrot
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/aloe-root-care/
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/aloe-root-care/
- ↑ http://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/aloe
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera
- ↑ https://houseplantcentral.com/caring-for-aloe-vera/
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/aloe-root-care/
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera
- ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/plant-stress/7341.html
- ↑ http://www.aloeplant.info/trim-an-aloe-plant/
- ↑ https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/plant-stress/7341.html
- ↑ https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/heatwave-garden-how-identify-prevent-heat-stress-plants
- ↑ ​​ https://houseplantcentral.com/aloe-vera/
- ↑ https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1399.pdf
- ↑ https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1399.pdf
- ↑ https://www.smgrowers.com/info/aloemite.asphttps://www.smgrowers.com/info/aloemite.asp
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera
About This Article
Article Summary
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To revive a dying aloe vera plant, start by carefully removing it from the pot it's in. Then, use a sterilized knife or shears to cut off any roots that are black or mushy. Next, replant the aloe vera in a pot that's 3 times bigger than the roots are, using a well-draining soil with a high sand content to prevent the roots from dying again. Finally, wait a few days after replanting the aloe vera before you water it. To learn how to treat a sunburnt aloe vera plant, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Repotted a leggy aloe from a too-small pot without checking this site. Used larger pot, but with regular potting mix, watered and left outside in the sun in June. Looked good until a full day of rain, when its lower leaves have turned yellow and soft." ..." more
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"Repotted a leggy aloe from a too-small pot without checking this site. Used larger pot, but with regular potting mix, watered and left outside in the sun in June. Looked good until a full day of rain, when its lower leaves have turned yellow and soft."
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"I transplanted my 24-year-old aloe vera plant to a larger pot with all potting soil. I didn't know to add sand to the new soil. My lovely old plant got root rot. I'm trying to regrow the roots now to save it. Your article was very informative."
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"I bought a healthy looking aloe vera plant with beautiful green and plump leaves. Unfortunately, I over watered it, and within 2 days it was in a sad state. Thanks to wikiHow, the plant has recovered after changing the soil and repotting it."
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"The instructions for replanting, as well as how to plant the aloe's "pups," was tremendously helpful. My aloe has several pups, but I've been reticent to do anything after killing the last batch and almost killing the mother plant."
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"The correct potting soil and the frequency of watering were helpful tips. The various signs of any problem the plant might be facing were also helpful. There was excellent information throughout the article. Thank you!"
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