Root rot in Aloe Vera plants occurs due to excessive watering and low temperatures. It is one of the most common problems encountered by Aloe Vera owners and, if not recognized immediately, can cause the plant to die.
The symptoms of root rot in Aloe Vera are yellow, soft and mushy leaves, soft stems, and black or brown roots. If you identify root rot in its early stages you may be able to salvage the plant, but when the stem is affected, it is usually too late.
In this article we discuss the causes of root rot in Aloe Vera plants, and how to remedy it.
How do you know if your Aloe Vera has root rot?
Because root rot starts in the roots of the Aloe Vera plant, it can be tricky to catch the problem before it becomes worse. You need to be aware of the signs that will alert you to this problem so you can be quick to address it and avoid any further unnecessary damage to your plant.
Often people only realize their Aloe Vera has root rot because they were repotting it, but you can actually tell a lot about the current state of your Aloe Vera just by looking at it.
Inspect your Aloe Vera regularly so you can tell if it has not been growing as rapidly as in previous weeks.
An overwatered plant has leaves that are yellow and withered. Its stem will become more and more exposed at the bottom and it will also look dried up. The root neck will become thin and weak and may break. Even if the stem looks normal but the leaves are soft and mushy, this still points to possible root rot.
Root rot has a distinct smell coming from the pot, which smells like rotten vegetation. If you are repotting your plant, inspect the roots and check for portions that are brown or black. These roots will also feel soft and mushy when touched.
What are the causes of root rot?
Overwatering
Aloe Vera plants are succulents which live in the driest places on earth, with little to no rain. This means that they are used to getting minimal water and storing as much as they can to save up for drought season. They are not used to getting an abundance of water every seven days. They do not like their soil to be perpetually wet because their roots will drown and die. They like soil that is porous and airy so that excess water drains easily and allows their roots to get oxygen.
Root rot develops when the roots drown due to excess water in the soil. This also makes the plant more susceptible to other fungal and bacterial problems.
The best way to know when to water your Aloe Vera is to touch the top inch of the soil in the pot. If it is dry to the touch, you can water the plant.
Cold weather
Aloe Vera in its natural habitat grows in some of the hottest deserts and semi-deserts on earth, so it is understandable for them to be sensitive to cold temperatures. When Aloe Vera is grown in a cold place and watered excessively, it is a recipe for disaster. This is why root rot is more common during the fall and winter seasons. Soil that is both cold and damp is ripe for fungal growth.
This is also why people are advised against using cold water to water succulents, even in the summer, because you do not want to give fungi and bacteria any reason to survive anywhere near your plant’s roots. Stick to watering your aloe vera with room-temperature water.
Wrong size container
If you are keeping the aloe vera plant in a container that keeps the roots bound and tight, the water will have a hard time draining to begin with, and if you then overwater the soil, it will be all the more conducive to fungal and bacterial breeding. Crowded roots will also cause the roots to suffocate and die easily. If you see the roots forcibly growing out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, it may be time to transfer the plant to a container that will be more accommodating to its size.
Reusing unclean pots
When you have pots that were used before for Aloe Vera plants that had root rot, you need to be careful about reusing them. Of course it makes sense to reuse pots, especially if they still look sturdy and new, but what if that was where your diseased Aloe Vera grew?
You need to properly disinfect all your old pots before using them again. Make a three percent hydrogen peroxide solution and clean the old pots with it. This will kill any fungi and bacteria left in the pot.
How do you prevent Aloe Vera root rot?
Here are some tips to remember to prevent and avoid root rot:
Do not overwater
The fungi that cause Aloe vera root rot thrive in a cold and wet environment, so try to lessen this possibility by making sure you do not waterlog the soil in the pot. Using well-draining succulent soil mix in a pot with drainage holes at the bottom can really help keep root rot at bay.
Keep to a watering schedule
Aloe Vera’s watering requirements differ according to whether it is in the growth phase or dormant, and depending on the weather. If you have a hard time figuring out the frequency it prefers, you can always check the soil by sticking your finger into the top inch to feel whether it is dry. If dry, you can water the plant, but if it is still damp, wait one or two more days and check the soil again.
Plant rotation
Usually, a certain pathogen will only grow around a specific kind of plant. So if you have an outdoor garden where the Aloe Vera is constantly becoming diseased, try planting a different plant in that plot the next year and try not to plant Aloe Vera for one or two years. Diversifying your plants may help clear out the pathogens in your soil.
Try loosening the soil
If you suspect overwatering to be the cause of the root rot, try loosening the soil around the Aloe Vera with a trowel so the soil becomes aerated and allows the water to drain more effectively.
Conclusion
Aloe vera plants are durable and hardy plants that are very easy to care for. One of the most common problems with them is root rot. This is caused by overwatering, cold weather, using a pot that is too small, and reusing old pots that still have pathogens in them.
If you are able to establish a watering schedule that works, make sure you do not expose your plant to winter cold, plant the aloe in an appropriately-sized pot, and wash old pots before reusing them, it should be very easy to grow these beautiful succulents without root rot.
Image: istockphoto.com / szefei