Does your Aloe plant stink?
Does it smell like onions or chicken soup?
Many people who bring Aloe plant from the nursery or receive it as a gift have this issue related to stinking odor.
So, what's the real reason for this problem?
In today's guide, I am going to talk about it in detail.
Hopefully, it will help in understanding why your plant smells so bad.
Let's get started!
4 Reasons Why Your Aloe Plant Stinks So Bad
These are some of the reasons why you might be having smell issues in your Aloe plant -
1. You Have A Different Variety Of Aloe Plant
This is the main reason for many people who experience stinking smell from their Aloe Vera.
The Aloe plant has many varieties, and some of them look quite similar to each other.
There is one such variety called Aloe Vera Chinensis.
This variant is known to produce a rotten smell from its pulp.
And guess what, it looks pretty similar to the common Aloe plant as well.
So, if you have mistakenly got this plant home, there is a possibility that it might stink.
Of course, the plant won't stink itself, but it's the broken leaf or damaged leaf that will probably cause the problem.
2. You Have Cut The Aloe Leaves While Harvesting
Were you trying to harvest some of the fresh leaves off your plant?
If yes, it could lead to the smell issue.
When you cut the leaves in the middle instead of harvesting the entire leaves, it will release a yellow-colored sap.
This is the sap that mainly causes the stinky smell around the plant.
Again, not all varieties will have a smell like the one you might be experiencing at this moment.
It's only the select species that release such odor in the air.
3. You Have A Damaged Leaf On The Aloe Plant
The other reason for this issue could be a damaged leaf on your Aloe plant.
If any leaf is damaged at the time of pruning or repotting, you might notice a stinky smell coming out of it.
The only way to confirm this problem is to check the plant thoroughly.
You will have to do a close inspection on all the leaves so that it'd be easier to find out the part where it might have damaged.
If your plant looks alright, there might be another reason for it.
Well, it is the root rot situation!
Many times when you overwater the succulents, they don't do well for too long.
The roots of such plants tend to turn soft and mushy over the period.
Sometimes, this can be the reason for the rotten smell from your Aloe plant.
Another important thing about this issue is it's not specific to any type or variety of Aloe.
It might happen in all Aloe varieties or succulents in your home garden, especially when the soil is too wet.
So, make sure you check the soil as well.
Remove the entire plant from the soil and see if the roots are doing well or not.
If you see any black or damaged roots underneath, it is a sign of the root rot problem.
You will have to address this problem so that the plant can revive quickly.
In the end, it will also help in getting rid of the smell issue.
4. You Have A Bacterial Or Fungal Issue On Your Plant
This is another problem that might cause the plant to stink.
When a bacterial or fungal attack takes place, these microorganisms feed on the surface of the leaves and extract the juices out of the pulp.
As the leaves get weaker, they become mushy and start stinking in the process.
If you have such a plant at home, do take a look at the surface of the leaves.
If you see any black or white substance on their surface, it might be because of these common indoor plant problems.
Other than that, it would be best if you also looked out for tiny holes or spots on the leaves.
Although the entire leaf might look fresh, it may have a few holes on its surface.
This is a type of insect infestation, which could also make the plant release a rotten smell from its leaves.
Therefore, don't rule out insect infestation as well.
How To Fix The Stinking Smell From Your Aloe Plant
There are a few ways through which you can tackle this issue.
So, let's have a look at them below.
1. Cut The Leaf And Wait For The Sap To Release Completely
If you are pruning the plant or harvesting some of the leaves, you should do it carefully.
In case you know your Aloe plant stinks after cutting the leaves, you will have to leave them somewhere away from you.
This will allow the sap to release and form a callus around the cut.
Once this natural process is over, you can get the leaves indoors and make use of them later for any use.
Note: This process is only required for the stinky variety of Aloe plants.
If your Aloe doesn't stink after cutting, you don't have to go through all those steps and processes.
2. Do Not Overwater Your Plant
As you know, overwatering automatically leads to many issues in your indoor plants.
So, there is no point in keep adding water to such plants every other day.
You must wait for 5-6 days in case of a mature plant before you water it again.
If the plant is small, you can check the soil and water accordingly.
Also, if you see any damage due to overwatering or stem rotting, you should remove such leaves entirely and move the plant to another pot.
Don't use the same soil again for any other plant in our garden, though.
Discard it completely.
3. Get A New Variety Of Aloe Plant
That's right!
If you have got a stinky Aloe variety, you should go ahead and get it replaced with some other variety of this plant.
There is no better way to fix this problem than to get a replacement for this plant.
So, visit your local nursery again and tell them about the issue.
I'm sure they'd be glad to help you out in this case.
If not, you will probably have to throw it away.
Since there is no effective way to remove the smell from its leaking sap, the best option is to remove it from your indoor garden.
However, next time, you must select a plant that doesn't have any such issues.
Do a bit of research on the internet before you step out to get a new plant for your garden.
It will definitely help in making the right choice.
If you want to buy it online, read the descriptions and reviews shared by other users.
Alright, so these are the few ways through which you can solve the stinky Aloe issue.
Sadly, though, there is nothing much you can do to fix the natural behavior of some of the plant varieties.
In case of other issues, you can surely address them with some of the suggestions shared in the guide.
Moving on, let's take a look at the FAQs below.
FAQs
No, it's not normal for Aloes to smell bad.
It often releases smell because of root rot, fungus, and insect issues.
It might also stink due to the damaged part on a specific variety of Aloe plants.
If your Aloe plant is doing well, it won't smell at all.
The pulp should also not smell much in such cases.
Yes, you can save a rotting Aloe if you work on it immediately.
The revival process entirely depends on the level of damage in your plant.
So, the best way to find more about it is to inspect the plant well.
No, the Aloe plant shouldn't smell bad.
In fact, it doesn't have a peculiar smell to it.
However, as I have explained in the guide above, some of the varieties might have odor issues.
But generally, you will only get the odor when you cut the leaves, and the yellow sap starts flowing out of it.
The plant shouldn't smell in itself, though.
It's the sap that releases onion or chicken soup-like odor in the air.
You should carefully look at the color of your Aloe gel.
If it looks yellow, you shouldn't use it at all.
However, if it's transparent in color, you can put it in use however you want.
Over To You
Does your Aloe plant stink?
I think the above suggestions should help in getting rid of any foul smell from your Aloe.
But if you have questions or doubts, feel free to ask them in the comments below.
I will do my best to resolve them for you.
In the meantime, please share this guide with your friends and family.
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