10 Quick Tips To Fix Your Overwatered Aloe Plant

The Aloe Vera is a sleek, long plant that is easy to care for and quite attractive. 

It is a succulent variety of indoor plant that belongs to the genus of Aloe. 

The plant has no stems or a short stem with green, fleshy leaves that spread out from the single stem of the plant. 

The edges of the leaf are lined with sharp protrusions. 

While it is fairly easy to take care of an Aloe, one must remember to be careful while watering the plant. 

Because its roots can quickly rot due to overwatering!

In the following guide, I have shared a few useful tips that can help you fix your overwatered Aloe Vera plant.

So, let’s get started! 

Steps To Fix Your Overwatered Aloe Plant

Caring for an Aloe Vera plant involves watering it at regular intervals and also avoiding overwatering so that the plant grows at a standard growth rate.

Aloe plants are resilient and can withstand drought, but overwatering can surely kill the plant. 

So, here are a few tips that can help you save your overwatered Aloe plant –

1. The plant should be taken out of the pot, and the soil should be removed from the roots. This must be done delicately so that the roots are intact. 
2. The part of the root that is damaged must be eliminated from the other part of the root. 
3. The plant should then be kept in a room where there is minimal or no sunlight, such as a garage or storeroom, for at least 3 days. The temperature of the room should be no less than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the roots of the plant must be covered with newspaper or paper of a similar type. 
4. The next step is to get a pot that is neither too big nor too small, as the roots of the plant should fit in perfectly. 
5. Then, a soil mix should be prepared with the following consistency: half potting mix and half pebbles/rocks of varying sizes. You can find such rocks online, and they are perfect for creating the right draining mix. 
6. At the end of the three days, add the plant to the potting mix. 
7. Once the plant is potted, it should be left alone for another three days without water. 
8. The pot should be then placed in an area where there is minimal sunlight. 
9. However, ensure that the temperature is not too cold, as this can affect the plant’s growth. 
10. Finally, once the plant is settled, you can water it but remember that the Aloe plant is not tolerant to stagnant water in the pot. The soil mix must be well-draining.

How To Identify An Overwatered Aloe Plant

If there is a lot of stagnant water in the pot, you will be able to see it affecting the growth of your Aloe in the following ways: 

• Sagging leaves 
• Stem and leaves will turn soft.
• The tips of the outermost leaves will start to turn brown.
• The entire plant will begin turning brown. 
• You might find mold in the soil in the pot.

On the other hand, an Aloe that does not get enough water will show the following symptoms: 

• Leaves getting thinner 
• The dewy texture of the leaf plate will decrease and turn dry. 
• The leaves will turn yellow and start to curl. 
• The soil lacks moisture. 

Difference Between An Overwatered And Underwatered Aloe

The main difference between an overwatered and underwatered Aloe plant is that an overwatered one will turn soft and mushy. 

In contrast, the underwatered one will shrivel up and start yellowing.

It is important to regularly test the soil to see if it is moist or dry. 

It is not good for the plant to have bone-dry soil as this will lead to underwatering symptoms. 

The soil should be well-draining.

If it does not drain properly, the plant will display overwatering symptoms. 

Both these types of symptoms are detrimental to the growth of the plant. 

4 Tips To Avoid Overwatering Aloe Plants

One of the most important maintenance tips of Aloe is to water it in a proper manner. 

Here are a few tips on how you can water your Aloe plant without overwatering it: 

1. Watering From The Top 

The process of watering an Aloe should be done with a watering can so that the entire plant is watered well. 

This way, you can ensure that the roots of the plant are reached, too. 

You should keep pouring the water until the entire pot is filled. 

Half an hour after watering, come back to check whether the water is soaked into the soil; if not, remove the excess water out of the pot. 

By doing this, you will prevent water from accumulating and causing rot to the root. 

If you like, you can use a spray to mist the plant later, but this is not necessary, especially if the plant is already placed in a sunlit room. 

The ideal time to plant the Aloe is in the evenings. 

If you water in the morning during summertime, the leaves can get burned. 

Watering in the evening ensures that the solar intensity is low and the water will not get evaporated quickly. 

2. Watering From Below

This watering method merely is pouring the water directly into the tray so that the soil does not extract nutrients meant for the root. 

This way, larger roots are not overwatered, and smaller roots get enough water. 

This watering method is mostly preferable for younger Aloe plants. 

This method helps the soil get enough moisture without being overwatered. 

3. Frequency Of Watering For Aloe

The frequency with which you should water your Aloe plant depends on the following factors: 

• The time of the year
• Age of the plant
• The climate of the space the plant is kept in 
• Quality of drainage 
• The material of the container 

During spring and summertime, your Aloe should be watered only during the morning to early evening. 

However, when it gets colder, you can water it any time of the day. 

You can water the plant for anywhere between 3 to 10 days, depending on external factors. 

Plants that are three years and older should be watered less frequently, but they need an ample amount of water to thrive. 

The reason why younger plants should be watered frequently is that these plants require less soil. 

Therefore, the water is evaporated quickly. 

The dormant period for Aloe plants is from fall to winter. 

The length of daylight is shorter, so they prepare to go dormant during this time. 

There is also minimal growth of the plant, so it is essential to have a good gap between watering sessions. 

During fall, a 2–3-week gap is sufficient, and during winters, you can go almost a month without watering the Aloe. 

However, if your Aloe is kept in a specific climate throughout the year, then you can decrease the gap to 2-3 weeks, even during winter. 

4. Pot’s Material

Aloe plants should be grown in clay or ceramic pots as it is easier for oxygen to enter the roots of the plant through such containers. 

The benefit of such materials is that moisture gets evaporated quickly too, but ensure that you frequently water during summers as the evaporation rate is higher. 

Drainage holes in the pot or container are a must for the Aloe plant as this will allow efficient drainage of the plant. 

Without proper drainage, the roots of the plant will rot and eventually kill the plant. 

If you want a drainage mix of good quality, buy the ones that are meant for Cacti and Succulents. 

Additional Tips: 

Here are a few more tips for you –

• Do not spray water on the Aloe plant regularly, as this can cause a sunburn. The appearance of the Aloe might change due to a sunburn. 
• Clean the leaves of the plant if they are covered with dust with a damp cloth but be careful not to eradicate the wax layer of the leaves. 
• Give your Aloe plant warm water instead of cold water as this helps in opening the stomata. 
• Once you water the plant, there will be a few droplets on the leaves. You can remove these by running a cloth over the leaves after watering. 

In the next section, I have shared some of the answers to the commonly asked questions by the readers.

So, do check them out below.

FAQs

Over To You

Well, I hope you found these tips and suggestions useful.

I’m sure it will significantly help in saving your overwatered Aloe vera plant.

However, if you still have any issues or queries, do leave a comment below.

I will do my best to resolve them for you.

Meanwhile, if you liked this guide, do share it with your friends and family.