Is that a white fungus on your Aloe Vera plant? Or is it something else?
When you see white-colored patches on the Aloe leaves, it can puzzle you for a quick moment. And if you are a novice gardener, you would surely find it difficult to recognize and fix this issue.
So, in today’s guide, let’s discuss this white fungus issue on your Aloe plant.
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What Is Aloe Vera Plant White Fungus?
To tell you the truth, the white fungus you see on your Aloe Vera plant is likely to be the powdery mildew or mealybug infestation.
Both these issues cause a layer or patches of white substance on the leaves of your Aloe plant.
And if you have never seen something like this before on your Aloe plant, you will probably think of it as some white dust on the plant.
That said, it could also be the white scale problem on your Aloe leaves, which looks similar to the above infestations.
As for the white fungus, you will probably see it on the top layer of the soil.
And it’s quite common to see the same colored fungus on the leaves.
Sometimes, the Aloe Vera fungus also looks dark black and appears in spots rather than patches.
However, in the following sections, I have shared some useful tips to fix all these issues.
I hope these tips help in reviving your Aloe plant.
How To Fix Aloe Vera Plant White Fungus
Here are the tips for you –
1. Remove The White Fuzz From The Leaves Using Water Spray
Whether it’s powdery mildew or mealybugs infestation, you will see some white-colored substance on the surface of your Aloe leaves.
Well, you need to get rid of this as soon as possible.
And the best way to do this is by using water spray.
Try to remove it as much as you can.
You may also use gardening gloves and a brush to clean the sticky ones from the bottom of the leaves.
Overall, the plant should be free from this white fuzz!
Note: Do not worry about overwatering while cleaning this mess, as you will have to repot this plant in the later stages of this process.
2. Use Vinegar And Water For Spraying
If you can’t get rid of it using plain water, use a vinegar and water combination.
It does help in removing some of the sticky stuff from the leaves.
As for the quantities, you don’t have to use a lot of vinegar.
A couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a one-liter spray bottle is good enough to work effectively.
3. Use Water And Soapy Solution For Spraying
Vinegar and water solutions work best for these issues.
But if you want to get one step ahead, you can also add some soapy water to it.
It also does the job well and will make things a lot easier for the clean-up part.
However, you must be a little careful while using the soapy solution on such plants.
When there is an infestation on the plant, it often gets weaker.
The chemical elements present in the spray can cause leaf burn or stem burn issues in these situations.
So, you will have to reduce the quantity of soapy water in the solution.
You can use a few drops of diluted soap or shampoo in it.
Note: Rubbing alcohol is another effective element in removing white fuzz from your Aloe plant.
You can mix the same in the above solution as well.
4. Remove The Affected Leaves From The Stem
Cleaned the leaves?
Great!
Let’s move to the next part of this process.
Now, remove the affected leaves from the bottom of the plant.
These leaves should look dull and flat.
And they will come off easily without using any other gardening tool.
The only thing you need to do here is to apply a bit of pressure on the leaf, and it will leave the plant in a moment.
Of course, if you find it difficult, use sharp scissors and get them off the plant.
5. Clean The Stem Properly
Next thing, clean the stem!
This is where these bugs and fungus find their home.
And therefore, it becomes essential to clean these hidden parts more efficiently.
When you remove the affected leaves from your Aloe plant, you will be able to see a white stem of the plant.
If you see any infestation on this part, you may clean the surface using water spray or any other solution spray mentioned in the guide above.
6. Use Fungicides For Managing Aloe Vera Plant White Fungus
Despite the deep cleaning methods, there will also be a possibility of seeing white fungus or mealybugs on the plant again.
Hence, you should not stop at the cleaning part only.
Once you are done with the cleaning, prepare the fungicide solution and spray it on the affected areas of your Aloe plant.
Important: Let the plant dry out thoroughly before you spray the fungicide.
The surface of the plant should be completely dry, as it helps in sticking the fungicide for a longer duration.
If you spray it on a wet surface, you will probably not see the same results.
If you want to try an organic fungicide, there is no better option than to go for Neem oil.
It works well for mealybugs as well as powdery mildew problems.
7. Repot The Plant
Generally, repotting helps in understanding the actual cause of these issues.
When the Aloe plant gets fungus, it’s likely to have arrived from the soil itself.
Therefore, uprooting the plant and checking the soil for possible issues makes sense.
If there are any problems with the root system, you can address them immediately with this type of inspection.
So, follow this step whenever you want to deal with Aloe Vera plant white fungus.
8. Transplant The Plant
As you know, transplanting is quite similar to repotting technique.
But here, you provide a new environment for the plant by replacing the soil and container.
Both these elements are essential for tackling the fungus issue in your Aloe plant.
So, make sure you provide the right conditions for the transplanted plant.
Also, this step is very important, as you don’t want to leave the heavily watered plant in the same pot.
Otherwise, it will become a problem, and the fungal infection will spread rapidly due to damp conditions.
9. Add Some Dried Leaves Or Shredded Newspaper To The Soil
Don’t want to transplant the Aloe plant?
Ideally, you must transplant your Aloe plant into a new pot and discard the old soil entirely.
But what if you don’t have fresh soil or a pot for the above two methods?
In that case, you are left with one possible solution.
And that is to use dried leaves and shredded newspaper!
These added ingredients help in removing excess moisture from the soil.
Moisture is one of the main reasons why succulents like Aloe Vera get the fungus problem in the first place.
Hence, you should always look for effective ways to keep your plant and soil as dry as possible.
10. Stop Watering Your Plant For A Couple Of Weeks
Yes, there is no need to water your plant again after following all the above suggestions.
When you use water spray on your Aloe plant, it gets enough moisture for a few days of survival.
And since the plant is already going through the fungus issue, you should minimize the water supply to such a plant.
So, wait for a few weeks unless the plant gives you an indication of underwatering.
When the soil turns dry, you can water the plant again.
Until then, wait patiently and work on removing any residual infestation on the plant.
11. Move Your Aloe Pot Near A Bright Place
Aloe plants are meant to do well in sunny places.
These are hardy plants, and they do enjoy full sun.
This type of weather condition also prevents the growth of fungus on the plant.
So, try to move your newly transplanted plant to a sunny window or an open space.
It will eliminate the issues related to dampness and wet soil.
12. Check For White Fungus Or Similar Issues In Other Plants
Done with the Aloe plant?
Now, let’s focus on other plants in your indoor garden.
When you see fungus or mealybugs on a houseplant, it’s likely to be on other plants.
As I mentioned earlier, these issues spread quickly, often targeting young and weak plants in the garden.
So, look out for plants that may have been affected by similar issues.
And if you do find any such plants, you should perform the same measures as you did with the Aloe plant.
13. Keep Inspecting Your Aloe Plant For A Few Weeks
Well, that’s the final tip to resolve this issue!
With most fungus issues in plants, you shouldn’t expect dramatic results with the first round of spraying.
It is sort of a sticky issue, which will keep coming back as long as it gets damp and humid.
So, do keep an eye on it.
If you see any regrowth of powdery mildew, you should act upon it quickly.
Perform another round of fungicide spray and follow the same steps again.
If the infestation is high, you may have to do it several times.
In the next section, you will find answers to some of the commonly asked questions by the readers.
Do check them out if you have any similar questions about this topic.
FAQs
As explained in the guide above, it’s more likely to be the mealybug or powdery mildew on your Aloe Vera plant. It’s a common problem in succulents, which are prone to overwatering issues.
Like the above white fungus issue, you must clean the white scale layer from the leaves. Use a brush and gardening gloves while performing this task.
You should also eliminate the highly targeted leaves from the plant, as it is much better than wasting time cleaning and spraying them.
It’s more likely because of the damp weather conditions. If the soil of your plant is wet, it will also attract white mold on its top surface. The mold generally likes to grow on such surfaces.
Yes, you can use Apple Cider Vinegar to manage the powdery mildew problem in your plants. It does a great job of keeping it under control.
As for the application, you can use a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a 1-liter water bottle. Spray this solution on the affected leaves and branches of your plants.
You will also need to perform this step a couple of times to eradicate this issue. The same can be performed within a gap of 4-5 days, depending on the level of damage.
No, the Aloe plant doesn’t attract any bugs as such.
However, some of the old or affected leaves may release water content (juices), which can attract a few bugs and insects. But it’s a pretty rare sight to see bugs or any such problems around this plant.
If your Aloe plant is doing well, you will not have any issues with it. The only thing that attracts this plant is the fungus problem, and you can easily manage it with some sprays and revised watering frequency.
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