Aloe vera, which originated from Africa, is a resilient plant that thrives on basic maintenance.
There are, however, a few conditions that the plant is sensitive to.
With a little bit of maintenance, Aloe Vera can grow beautiful, fleshy, and green leaves, which produce a gel-like substance that has many uses!
The Aloe Vera losing color is a matter of concern for plant parents but do not worry if you notice discoloration on its leaves; this can be fixed without breaking a sweat!
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Aloe Plant Losing Color: Key Reasons
There are a few reasons why your Aloe Vera may look dull and lose its color.
One of the biggest reasons for fading color is overwatering. As a succulent, Aloe Vera can withstand a lack of water for a while, but it is sensitive to surplus moisture. You will know the plant is getting too much water when it begins to turn yellow, brown and eventually will rot.
If you find Aloe Vera leaves turning pale, this could be due to excessive sunlight exposure, inadequate nutrient supply, or sudden climate changes.
Sometimes, even the wrong kind of soil can lead to Aloe losing color.
When this happens, you may feel like it is impossible to save the plant, but thankfully, the Aloe is durable and can be revived with some care and effort.
4 Reasons Why Your Aloe Turns Pale
The reasons for discoloration can vary, depending on your circumstances.
Here are a few issues that your Aloe Vera may go through if not given proper care, along with solutions for each one:
1. Overwatering
Poor drainage or watering more than necessary can turn the leaves of the plant white.
Succulents do not like to be kept in stagnant water, which is why good drainage is extremely important for the Aloe. A common misconception among plant owners is that watering daily will help the plant grow quicker, but this is false.
There are two ways your plant could get overwatered:
- Watering multiple times within a short period
- Watering too much at once
Both these reasons combined with poor soil draining properties can lead to clogged soil and roots. When the leaves of the plant have yellow or brown spots, which are soft and mushy to the touch, that is the first sign of overwatering.
Once you diagnose the issue, you can do a few things to reverse the overwatering problem.
- Allow water from the pot to dry before you water again. While you wait for the moisture to dry up, keep the plant away from the sun. Also, you can prune the leaves that appear to be irreparably damaged.
- Replace your current pot with a pot that has drainage holes and well-draining soil. Using soil that is made for cacti is an excellent choice for aloe vera plants as well. You can also include small pebbles or marbles to facilitate better draining.
- Change the way you water your plant. Wait till the soil is completely dry from the previous watering to water the plant again. 7-10 days is the ideal amount of gap between two watering sessions.
2. Low Sunlight Exposure
In their natural condition, Aloe Vera plants grow in sunny and dry climate regions. If your home or garden does not receive much sunlight, your Aloe plant might turn white from the center.
The low sun exposure causes leaves to experience etiolation, a phenomenon where the plant turns pale and appears stretchy.
When you notice a loss of color and paleness, ensure that the plant is receiving at least 6 hours of sunlight during the day. However, do not expose the plant to direct, strong light at once as this can burn the leaves.
3. Overexposure To Sunlight
White patches across the surface of the leaves are caused by overexposure to sunlight. There is no exact limit on how much exposure to sunlight is fine for the plant.
If your plant is kept outside, direct sunlight will probably not damage the plant. However, an indoor Aloe Vera plant that is not used to direct sunlight can get sunburned more easily.
Transitioning your plant from cool temperatures to hot temperatures gradually is necessary as sudden shifting can make the plant sensitive to temperatures.
To reduce the white patches on the plant:
- Place the plant in the shade, where it can also get plenty of sunlight.
- When moving the plant from a shady place to a sunny location, do so gradually, as sudden exposure to direct sunlight can burn its leaves.
4. Change In Temperature
A change in temperature can affect the plant’s growth.
For example, if you leave your plant outside during a cold night, you might find that its leaves are turning yellow or brown. This is because Aloe plants are sensitive to cold temperatures and are unable to tolerate sudden drops in temperature.
If your plant was kept in freezing temperatures for long hours, some of the leaves might be damaged to revive. In this case, prune these leaves so that the plant can grow well.
To prevent this, bring your plant inside when you know the temperature is going to drop beforehand.
Two things you can do to prevent temperature shocks for your plant:
- Check the weather constantly, especially if you keep your plant on a patio or in an outdoor garden. If you have multiple plants and cannot move all of them during a sudden frost, cover the plants with a blanket to prevent damage.
- Move the plant away from any window during summertime. Hot windows can also burn the leaves of Aloe.
How Do You Bring An Aloe Plant Back To Life?
The reason your Aloe plant might be dying is because of overwatering, lack of proper drainage, or overexposure to sunlight. These issues can be easily rectified, given that the damage is not too severe.
A few things you can keep in mind while dealing with a dull and dying aloe plant are:
- Ensure the soil is dry before you water your Aloe plant. One week is enough time for the soil to dry out. If your plant is experiencing issues with waterlogged soil, try changing its soil or pot. Perpetually wet soil can lead to root rot issues which include leaves turning yellow or brown.
- Mimic the natural environment of Aloe Vera by planting it in grainy soil, giving it plenty of natural sunlight, and weekly watering.
- Aloe leaves tend to droop when they are kept in the shade for too long. Give your plant at least 6 hours of sunlight during the day.
- Moving the plant from shade into direct sunlight can burn its leaves. It is better to slowly acclimatize the plant to abrupt changes in temperature.
- If most of the plant is damaged and cannot be revived, try saving one fresh leaf to propagate it. It is fairly easy to propagate Aloe Vera with just a healthy leaf cutting.
FAQ
Several issues could cause Aloe Vera leaves to change its color.
Overexposure to sunlight, too little sunlight, overwatering, and sudden shifts in temperature are possibly the reason why discoloration occurs in the plant.
The leaves of an overwatered Aloe plant will show yellow and brown spots, which are soft to the touch. This is the first sign of overwatering.
Once you notice the leaves changing color, examine the roots, too. Revive the plant before root rot sets in and spreads to the entire aloe vera.
Aloe Vera’s leaves are usually plump, firm, and green. When the leaves look dull and droopy, with patches of brown, yellow, or white, it means the plant needs more care.
Direct sunlight for a few hours a day will not harm an aloe vera that is used to it. If you suddenly bring an aloe plant outside from a shady location, it is likely to get sunburnt.
Watering schedules need to be changed according to the season and soil type.
During summers, the soil dries quicker, so you can water the plant once a week or every 10 days. Soil dries less quickly during winters, so the ideal time to water would be every two weeks. Every plant is different and is accustomed to a different environment, so you can decide what is best for your plant!
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