Your Aloe Vera is probably turning yellow due to too much or too little water. The easiest way to correct this, especially if you are able to catch the problem early on, is to learn how to water your aloe correctly.
Other causes of a yellowing Aloe vera plant are lack of light, changes in temperature, lack of nutrients, diseases and pests.
If your Aloe vera is turning yellow and you want to learn more about the cause and how to remedy it, keep reading.
Incorrect watering methods
This is the most common cause of a yellowing Aloe vera plant. Aloes are succulents, which means that they are adapted to living in dry conditions with little to no rain. Their stems and leaves are able to absorb and store a lot of water, which they can then use in the event of a drought. So, watering them once every seven to ten days will suffice.
Aloe vera plants do not like their soil to be constantly wet. If their roots are constantly soaked in wet soil, it can lead to root rot, which happens because the roots cannot get any air, and are drowning and dying. If a root dies, it will rot, and the rot will make its way up into the stem and then the leaves of the plant. The leaves will turn yellow and become plump and heavy due to the excess water. They will feel soft and mushy, and will fall off at the slightest touch. The plant will eventually die if the problem is not detected soon enough.
Aloe vera has been observed to survive up to three months with no water, but that does not mean you should allow this much time between watering for your plant. If you want to keep your plant looking healthy and green, you still need to give it enough water.
If the soil in your plant’s pot is constantly dry, the plant will not be able to absorb the nutrients that it needs. These elements need water to keep them in a soluble form that the plant can absorb. A dried-out Aloe vera will eventually turn yellow.
The best way to remedy an overwatered or underwatered aloe plant is to make sure that you know how to water it properly.
The easiest way to determine whether your plant needs to be watered is to loosen the soil and check if the top two inches are dry or still moist. If it is still moist, wait one or two days and check it again. If the soil is dry, water it enough that it gets soaked. Just make sure that the excess water can flow out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
The ideal time between watering is usually seven to ten days, but you might have to water less frequently in the winter. If your plant is kept outside in the sun during the summer, you might also need to water it more frequently. The key will always be to check the soil.
Light issues
Aloe vera plants need a certain amount of light and will be greatly affected by either a lack of, or excess, sunlight. If you leave your plant under the sun for too long everyday, it can lead to sun damage and its leaves can turn purple.
Your plant will most likely turn yellow during the colder months. You might keep it in a cool room with not much light coming in, but you should be careful in this case. You need to keep in mind that your plant still needs light year-round for photosynthesis to happen. In the summer, you can just place it on your porch or patio, but during winter, placing it in south-facing windows will have to suffice.
If your home tends to get dark for long periods of time, you might need to set up a light for your plant. A grow light can help provide the daily 15 hours of light your Aloe vera plant will need.
Changes in temperature
The ideal summer temperature for Aloe vera is around 77 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can tolerate temperatures as low as 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the fall or winter when temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or in the summer when the temperature can reach as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit, this can cause considerable damage to your plant. Both these extremes can cause the plant to turn yellow as a way of showing that it is stressed. It is best to address this immediately and transfer it to an area with a more stable temperature.
Lack of nutrients
When an Aloe vera plant does not get its required nutrients, you will see the effects on the plant’s appearance. The leaves will start to thin out and the tips will turn yellow.
Aloes, like any plant, need soil that has the required nutrients for their survival. A commercially available succulent soil mix is usually good enough for this. You do not need to fertilize a newly-transplanted aloe for a couple of months, because the new soil still contains sufficient nutrients.
An aloe vera plant will also turn yellow if fertilizer is applied too often, if not enough water was given before fertilization, if the roots do not receive a liquid solution but the leaves and stem are sprayed, or if you fertilize the plant during the winter.
Disease
As mentioned above, root rot can kill your Aloe vera if not detected early.
Root rot can spread quickly if you ignore an aloe’s requirements and have soil that does not drain well or soil that is too compact and causes moisture stagnation.
Symptoms of root rot include thin, watery, withered leaves, leaves turning yellow, and the aloe stem becoming so thin and fragile that it breaks off easily at the base. The pot will also start to smell like rotten vegetation and the plant’s growth will become stunted.
Dry rot is another disease that affects the Aloe vera plant. The tips of the medium-sized leaves will start to dry out and then the entire leaf will start to curl and dry out entirely. The fungus will spread from leaf to leaf until it dries all of them from the inside out.
You can keep these diseases away from your plant by making sure the plant has well-draining soil and is in a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom.
Dry rot can be avoided by making sure the plant gets the right amount of water.
You can also use fungicide to get rid of the disease on your plant.
Pests
Pests can also cause your Aloe vera plant to turn yellow. If you see dead leaf spots on your plant, it is safe to assume that it was caused by spider mites. As these spots spread, they will reach each other and form bigger blotches that will turn the leaf yellow. Even though these insects are very small, they can inflict a lot of damage. They set up their colonies at the bottom of young leaves and suck the sap from the plant.
Before treating the plant, make sure you transfer it to an area far away from your other plants. This is so you can isolate it and prevent the pests from spreading. You can then use neem oil to kill the spider mites. Apply the neem oil once a week for a month to make sure all the insects are killed.
Mealybugs can also cause the Aloe vera’s leaves to turn yellow. They leave a waxy substance on the leaves that will deprive them of oxygen and cause them to rot. You can use alcohol or apple cider vinegar to kill these bugs. Keep the plant in the shade while you treat it and repeat the treatment every ten days, three times, to make sure the bugs are eradicated.
Conclusion
An aloe plant will turn yellow if it is under any kind of stress, so if you notice your Aloe vera turning yellow, you need to find the cause immediately and fix it.
The most common causes of yellowing Aloe vera plants are overwatering, underwatering, lack of light, temperature changes, lack of nutrients, disease and pests.
Aloe vera is easy to grow and as long as you provide it with its most basic needs, you will have no problem keeping it green and healthy.
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