• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Guides
  • About
  • Contact

Indoor Mint logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Guides
  • About
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Guides
  • About
  • Contact
×

Home » Indoor Plant Guides » Aloe Vera

Published: Jun 18, 2021 · Updated: Jun 17, 2021 by Harshad Sawant · Leave a Comment

Does Aloe Vera Plant Repel Insects?

Aloe Vera is known for being a sturdy, durable houseplant, along with its ability to produce a gel-like substance that has several uses and benefits.

Houseplants often attract insects, and this is especially true for succulents like Aloe Vera. 

Fleshy leaves of succulents make them a good target for different kinds of pests to feed on. 

This guide will list the types of insects found on the Aloe plant and how to keep the plant pest-free. 

does aloe vera plant repel insects guide cover image

Do Aloe Vera Plants Repel Insects?

Aloe Vera as a plant does not repel insects, but the gel the succulent produces can keep insects like mosquitoes away during summertime. 

As succulents, Aloes love basking in the sun during the day. 

This can attract several insects to feast on the fleshy leaves of the plant. 

Pests like aphids and Aloe mites cannot resist the plant and may flock to it when kept outdoors. 

In such cases, there are easy fixes to battle pest infestation. 

However, the Aloe plant itself is not an insect-repellant. 

3 Common Bugs On Aloe Vera Plants

There are several kinds of bugs one can find on an Aloe plant. 

Most pests are not identifiable with the naked eye, but using a magnifying glass or microscope can help you observe the kind of pests feast on the Aloe Vera. 

A few common bugs that you may find are: 

1. Scales 

Scales are tiny, flat, and fluid-sucking insects that infiltrate through the skin of the leaf and consume its liquid. 

Once they find a comfortable spot on a plant, it is unlikely they will move until they die. 

Their lack of movement is why plant parents often mistake a scale for a piece of dirt or a wound on the plant. 

By consuming plant fluid, scales often deplete the plant, causing it to turn yellow. 

It is not difficult to remove scales from an Aloe vera. 

All you need to do is use a blunt knife and scrape the insects off the leaves. 

If scraping the leaves does not remove the scales, dab a cotton pad saturated with rubbing alcohol on the scales. 

2. Mites 

Aloe plants can also attract mites, especially a mite called the Aloe mite. 

This mite is microscopic, and you cannot detect it without a magnifier. 

These bugs are also commonly known as aloe gall mites or wart mites, and it is nearly impossible to know whether they have infested the plant until you see the damage. 

When aloe gall mites feed on the plant, they inject chemicals that cause tiny lumps to grow on the leaves. 

These lumps form a shelter for the mites and make the plant more habitable for them. 

Aloe gall mites, unfortunately, do not respond to miticides or pesticides. 

If you find them damaging your Aloe plant leaves, it is best to prune the leaves off and dispose of them away from other plants you may have in your garden. 

3. Mealybugs 

Mealybugs are small, white, and fuzzy insects that love to feed off aloe plants. 

They build their nests around the base of an Aloe plant, as this is where the female mealybugs lay eggs. 

Young and adult female mealybugs consume the sap of the succulent by piercing its leaves. 

This causes yellowing, stunted growth, plant tissue distortion, and if left untreated for a while, this can lead to more severe issues in the plant. 

When mealybugs feed on Aloe Vera, they leave behind a sticky trail of a substance called honeydew. 

Honeydew attracts mold and ants on succulents. 

The easiest way to get rid of mealybugs is to spray a steady stream of water on the plant. 

Then, rub the nests and colonies off with a soft cloth. 

If there is heavy infestation on the plant, it is best to remove it from your house completely. 

To prevent these bugs from infesting the aloe plant, conduct routine checks on the plant to see if there are any insects. 

Optimal conditions for an Aloe Vera include sunny locations with well-draining, gritty soil. 

Also, remember that Aloe plants do not thrive in cold and windy temperatures. 

If there's frost predicted in your area, cover the plants with a blanket to prevent the plant from freezing. 

Tips To Prevent Bugs Problem On Aloe Vera Plant

If you own more than one Aloe Vera plant, carefully examine all of them for bug infestation. 

If the fresh ones do not have pests, you should separate them from the infested ones. 

You cannot rescue the plants that have heavy mites infestation. 

You need to discard such plants. 

Bring the plant(s) to a sink and wash it with soapy water. 

Dish soap is an effective insecticide and can easily kill pests on plants. 

You should add two tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. 

Rinse the soap thoroughly off the plant, especially any mold that may have formed as a result of infestation. 

Plants with extreme infestation need insecticidal soap for treatment. 

Before using the soap on your plant, do a patch test to see if the plant reacts to the soap. 

To do this, use a cotton pad and apply the soap to one spot on the plant. 

Wait for a couple of days to see if there are any reactions. 

If the plant does not react, it means that the soap is safe to use. 

Coat the entire plant with the insecticidal soap and keep the Aloe Vera outside at a temperature below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Once the Aloe is dry, wash the soap off thoroughly with water. 

You will need the following items to exterminate pests off your aloe vera: 

  • Dish soap
  • Insecticidal soap 
  • Soft cloth
  • Magnifying glasses

Note that a well-kept Aloe will resist insects better than an Aloe that is not thriving. 

Feeding the plant lightly (once during summer and once during spring) and watering it once a week will ensure a standard growth in the plant. 

Additionally, washing the plant at least once or twice a year can keep the plant clean, as it helps remove young insects and eggs from the plant.

Do not use a detergent or any other harsh chemical instead of insecticidal soap, as this can damage the plant completely! 

FAQs

1. Does Aloe Keep Bugs Away?


No, Aloe Vera plants do not repel any bugs.

Strong plants can deal with insects better, but they do not naturally repel any insects.

Aloe vera gel is used by some to keep pests away, but this is not always effective! 

2. What Bugs Are Attracted to Aloe Vera Plant?


Bugs like aloe gall mites, mealybugs, and scales are commonly known to be attracted to Aloe Vera plants.

3. How to Get Rid of Aloe Mites?


Aloe mites cause irreversible damage to Aloe plants, and once the plant is damaged, it cannot be saved.

To avoid having mites on the plants, check your plant weekly with a magnifying glass, as most bugs are microscopic. 

4. Is Aloe Vera Plant Mosquito Repellent?


No, Aloe Vera plants cannot repel mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are repelled by strong scents, which the Aloe Vera plant does not give off.

If you want a mosquito repellant plant, try looking for lavender, lemongrass, marigolds, peppermint, rosemary, garlic, and basil. 

5. How To Get Rid Of Bugs In Aloe Vera Plant?


Getting rid of bugs on this plant is quite simple.

All you need is dish soap, water, and a cloth to wipe the plant down.

Dish soap is a useful pesticide that can be safely used on plants.

If the insects do not go away with only the dish soap solution, you should use insecticidal soap.

If you are dealing with mites, it is better to get rid of the plant, as damage caused by these pests cannot be reversed.

To save other plants in the house from getting attacked, dispose of the plant thoroughly. 

Over To You

Aloe Vera is one of those plants that do not attract or repel bugs in any way.

These are just another type of succulents.

So, if you are expecting any magical properties from this plant, you might get disappointed.

On that note, let's conclude this guide here.

If you have questions or doubts, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Liked this guide?

Please share it with your friends and family.

More Aloe Vera

  • aloe vera plant overgrown cover image
    How To Revive An Overgrown Aloe Plant
  • aloe vera roots broke off featured image
    8 Things You Should Do If Aloe Vera Roots Broke Off
  • aloe vera transplant shock featured image
    5 Tips To Recover Aloe Vera From Transplant Shock
  • top heavy aloe
    6 Tips To Revive A Top Heavy Aloe Plant

About Harshad Sawant

Hello there!

My name is Harshad, and I'm the gardening expert at IndoorMint.com.

Gardening is one of my passions, and I enjoy pretty much everything connected to plants.

I strongly believe in sharing knowledge with everyone, so you'll always find me posting new how-tos and guides on this blog.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Harshad - Blogger at Indoormint.com

Hi, I'm Harshad, a gardening enthusiast who likes to grow different varieties of indoor plants. I have been growing houseplants for over 15 years, and I share those experiences and learnings through this blog.

More about me →

As Featured In

indoormint featured on

Popular Guides

  • How To Root Haworthia Pups With No Roots
  • repotting the plant
    How To Fix Root Rot Without Repotting
  • monstera grow light distance
    What Is The Right Grow Light Distance For Monstera?
  • jade plant top heavy
    5 Ways To Revive A Top Heavy Jade Plant

Trending Guides

  • aloe vera white fungus cover image
    13 Tips To Fix Aloe Vera Plant White Fungus
  • pothos companion plants
    10 Beautiful Pothos Companion Plants
  • spider plant growing long stem cover image
    Why Is My Spider Plant Growing Long Stem?
  • multiple plants in one container featured image
    11 Tips For Growing Two Plants In One Container

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About

Privacy Policy

  • Privacy Policy

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 Indoor Mint