Why are my Aloe Vera leaves limp, moist, and falling off?
Is your aloe vera limp, wet, or losing leaves? Learn the simple steps to diagnose and fix common aloe vera problems. Get easy, beginner-friendly tips to help your plant recover and grow healthy again.
I'm really glad you found this guide! If your aloe vera leaves are limp, feel wet, or are falling off, you're not alone. Many people run into this problem, and it's one of the most common questions I get. The good news is that it's usually easy to fix. I'll show you what's causing these issues and how you can help your aloe vera recover, step by step.
These are the topics we'll look at:
- Why does this happen to my Aloe Vera?
- How do you troubleshoot limp, moist, or falling aloe vera leaves?
- Check your watering habits
- Inspect the pot and soil
- Look at the light
- Check the temperature
- Check for pests or disease
- How do you rescue an Aloe vera?
- Remove the plant from its pot
- Check the roots
- Trim away damaged roots and leaves
- Repot in fresh, dry soil
- Wait before watering
- Water carefully going forward
- How do you prevent limp, moist, or falling leaves on Aloe Vera?
- Only water when the soil is dry
- Use a pot with drainage holes
- Choose the right soil
- Give your aloe vera enough light
- Keep your plant away from cold air
- Go easy on the fertilizer
- Watch for pests
- You can do this!
Let's get started and bring your plant back to health.
Why does this happen to my Aloe Vera?
When aloe vera leaves turn limp, feel wet, or start to fall off, it usually means the plant isn't getting exactly what it needs. Most of the time, there's a simple reason behind it. Here are the main causes:
- Too much water (this is the most common reason)
- Poor drainage or soil that holds too much moisture
- Not enough light
- Cold air or drafts
- Pests or disease (less common, but possible)
Finding out what's causing the problem is the first step to helping your aloe vera recover. In the next part, I'll show you how to check each of these and what you can do to fix them.
How do you troubleshoot limp, moist, or falling aloe vera leaves?
To find out what's causing your aloe vera's problems, it's best to check a few things one by one. Here's how you can do it:
Check your watering habits
How often do you water your aloe vera? Aloe vera needs much less water than most houseplants. If the soil still feels wet a week after watering, it's probably too much.
Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Stick your finger into the soil about 2–3 cm deep. If it feels dry, it's time to water. If it's still damp, wait a few more days.
Make sure you're not watering on a schedule, but based on how dry the soil feels.
Inspect the pot and soil
Does your pot have drainage holes? Aloe vera needs a pot that lets extra water escape. If there are no holes, water can build up and cause root rot.
What kind of soil are you using? Aloe vera grows best in a fast-draining mix, like cactus or succulent soil. Regular potting soil holds too much moisture.
Look at the light
Aloe vera likes bright, indirect sunlight. If it's in a dark spot, try moving it to a brighter place. Aloe vera is a very tough plant and can do quite well in direct sunlight as well. Don't be afraid to give it this bright light.
Check the temperature
Aloe vera doesn't like cold air or drafts. Make sure it's not next to a window that gets chilly at night, or near an air conditioner.
Check for pests or disease
Look for tiny bugs or spots on the leaves. While pests are less common, they can sometimes cause problems. If you see any, gently wipe the leaves and consider using a mild plant-safe treatment.
How do you rescue an Aloe vera?
If you've found what's wrong with your Aloe vera, using the checklist in the previous section, you can move on to the most important step: Rescuing your Aloe!
If you've found this guide and skipped to this section, I highly recommend to first check what's wrong with your plant, because otherwise you could make the problem worse.
Let's help your aloe vera recover with a few simple steps:
Remove the plant from its pot
Gently take the aloe vera out of the pot. Be careful not to break the healthy leaves or roots. It's a good idea to wear some gardening gloves as well, the spikes are sharp!
Check the roots
Look for roots that are brown, black, mushy, or smell bad. These are signs of root rot. Healthy roots are firm and white or light tan.
Trim away damaged roots and leaves
Use clean scissors or a sharp knife (be careful) to cut off any rotten roots and any leaves that are limp, wet, or falling off. Let the plant sit out of soil for a few hours, so the cuts can dry and heal.
Repot in fresh, dry soil
Use a pot with drainage holes and a cactus or succulent soil mix. Place the aloe vera in the pot and fill in around the roots with the new soil. Don’t water right away.
Wait before watering
Let the plant settle in its new soil for about a week before you water it. This helps prevent new root rot and shock.
Water carefully going forward
When you do water, make sure the soil is completely dry first. Water deeply, but let any extra water drain out. You can also submerge the pot with soil in a bucket of water, so the soil can easily absorb any water it needs. Afterward, let the excess water drain from the pot.
How do you prevent limp, moist, or falling leaves on Aloe Vera?
Once you've taken care of the problem and your aloe vera is healthy again, you can prevent any future problems by following a few simple habits:
Only water when the soil is dry
Check the soil with your finger before watering. If it feels dry at least 2–3 cm down, it's time to water. If it's still damp, wait a few more days. Aloe vera loves dry soil, so make sure it fully dries out.
Use a pot with drainage holes
Always choose a pot that lets extra water escape. This is one of the easiest ways to avoid overwatering. This is especially true for drought-loving plants like Aloe vera, but also most other types of succulents and cacti.
Choose the right soil
Use a cactus or succulent soil mix. These mixes drain quickly and help prevent root rot. General potting soil holds onto too much moisture and don't drain well enough for these plants.
Give your aloe vera enough light
Place your plant in a bright spot with bright indirect to direct sunlight. A south- or west-facing window is usually best. You can place it right up to the window. If you don't have a spot like that available, find a good spot that still gets plenty of sunlight during the day.
Keep your plant away from cold air
Make sure your aloe vera isn't near cold windows, air conditioners, or drafts. These cold drafts cause quick temperature and humidity changes, which most plants don't like.
Go easy on the fertilizer
Aloe vera doesn't need much fertilizer. If you want to feed it, use a diluted liquid fertilizer for succulents once or twice in spring and summer.
Watch for pests
Check your plant regularly for signs of bugs or disease. Catching problems early makes them much easier to fix. You can take a look at this guide to check what you'll need to look for.
For more tips about taking care of Aloe Vera, you can take a look at my plant care guide for Aloe Vera.
You can do this!
Caring for aloe vera can feel tricky at times, but small changes often make a big difference. If you follow the steps in this guide, your plant has a good chance to recover and keep growing strong. Remember, every plant is a little different, so don't be discouraged if it takes a bit of trial and error. If you have more questions or want to share how your aloe vera is doing, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help.
Thank you for reading this post! I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with.
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