Aloe vera plants are very popular and attractive plants to have indoors or outdoors, not to mention the medicinal benefits of their leaves. They are generally easy to care for, but if you find your aloe plant drooping, you are not alone. Luckily, it’s not that difficult to identify the problem and get your plant back to good health.
Why is my aloe plant hanging down? An aloe plant with droopy leaves is a sign of one of the many problems that prevent it from thriving. Causes include too much water, insufficient drainage, flooding, disease, pests, heat stroke, transplant stress, improper lighting, or pot ties.
Read on to find out how to identify the cause of your aloe plant dropping and how to fix it.
Contents
Why is my aloe plant hanging?
Let’s take a look at common reasons why your aloe vera plant might drop. Not only will we tell you what to look for to determine the cause of the hanging, but we will also tell you how to fix the situation.
give too much water
Overwatering is the most common reason for an aloe plant to topple over. If you notice the leaves dropping or wilting, we recommend that you first check to see if you are overwatering the plant.
One of the biggest dangers of overwatering is that the roots can become infected with fungus because fungus thrives in moisture. Check the roots for signs of rot and treat with fungicide if evident.
Another sign of overwatering is that the aloe leaves are starting to get soggy. The leaves will be especially soft and soggy due to excess moisture in the plant.
Check the soil by placing your finger and smelling the moisture. If the soil is wet, you may have overwatered the aloe.
The best solution to this problem is, of course, to develop a effective irrigation strategy for your aloe plant. Ideally, wait until the soil is completely dry before watering the plant again. Once dry, soak the soil. Then wait for it to dry completely before watering again.
Read my step-by-step guide to fixing an overwatered plant for more help.
has no drainage
As an extension of the problem with too much water, your aloe can thrash and wilt because it lacks good drainage. Make sure your aloe vera is planted in well-drained soil and make sure there is a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. This allows the soil to dry out between waterings, which is necessary to keep the plant healthy.
Submarine
As you have seen, aloe plants need little water, which is why overwatering is so common. That said, it is always possible to flood the plant, which often happens when aloe plants are neglected.
Underwater is a problem for any plant. Lack of water eventually causes the leaves to wilt and fall off sooner or later. So, even though it’s rare with an aloe vera plant, it’s still possible to go underwater.
As mentioned, when the soil for your aloe plant dries out completely, it’s time to water. Soak the soil and make sure there is a drainage hole at the bottom. Once the soil is completely dry, it’s time to water again.
Diseases
Although maintenance is generally quite low, aloe plants can become infected with certain diseases. There are certain fungal and bacterial diseases to be aware of. Among which:
aloe oxide: Aloe rust is a fungal disease that can occur if there is too much humidity in the environment or if the temperature is too low. These conditions allow the fungus to grow.
You can recognize this disease by the appearance of yellow spots that turn into larger brown spots. Orange spores can also grow on the underside of leaves. Most of the time, this disease is self-limiting, but be sure not to overwater the aloe and that it is at the correct temperature.
Basal stem rot: Basal stem rot is a fungal infection that can occur when the plant is exposed to too much moisture. It is characterized by browning and/or rotting of the aloe base.
This is quite serious for the health of the plant and may require cutting to save parts of the plant that are not affected.
Bacterial soft rot: It is a bacterial infection that makes the leaves of the aloe plant watery and wilt. If your leaves are wilting and falling off, this is the most likely cause. This is often caused by too much water, as the excess moisture allows bacteria to thrive. This disease is quite serious and often leads to the death of the aloe vera plant.
If your aloe vera plant drops or you think it is sick, you usually need to take immediate action to determine the cause and try to correct the problem. As you can see, this is often caused by overwatering the plant.
harmful
Aloe vera plants are susceptible to pests. These pests often attack the leaves of the plant, which can cause death or leaf drop.
Aphids are one of the most common aloe vera pests to watch out for. Aphids suck sap from leaves, which can result in a dead, droopy leaf.
If you notice an aphid infestation on your aloe, treat it immediately with horticultural oil or neem oil. Alternative, Learn more about the best ways to get rid of all common houseplant pests here.
Sunstroke
Another reason an aloe vera plant may droop is due to temperature fluctuations. In addition to being kept too hot and too cold, plants can experience heat shock if they quickly go from one temperature to another.
Aloe vera plants should be between 60 and 75 years old. are carried out F(15 and 24 VS). Although the aloe vera plant can live in temperatures outside of this range, this is the ideal range (especially if you keep the plant indoors). Also be careful not to vary the range too much, as the plant grows best at consistent temperatures.
Remember to avoid thermal shock by gradually introducing your aloe plant to a new environment. Bring it into the room at the new temperature for about an extra hour each day to eliminate any shock you may feel from this change.
transplant stress
Often an aloe plant will topple over if it is in a container that is too small and the roots cannot grow large enough to support the plant. If that is the case, aloe transplantation can be a solution. That said, repotting brings up the new issue of transplant stress, which can occur when the plant struggles to root in the new environment.
To avoid the stress of transplanting and to have your aloe in a good-sized pot, transplant aloe vera very well. Choose a new pot of the correct size, usually one size larger than the last pot. Be sure to carefully remove the plant and replant it in a similar environment to avoid additional stress.
In general, aloe plants are quite versatile and hardy. As long as you don’t introduce him to a completely different environment, he should adapt well to the change.
bad lighting
An aloe vera plant needs about six hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive. This means that if you keep the plant indoors, you should place it near a window (preferably south-facing) where it can get plenty of sunlight. If there is not enough sun, you may see the plant sag and wilt.
Another important lighting consideration is not to shock the plant by putting it under different lights at once. Instead, give the plant about an extra hour of sunlight per day to allow it to get used to it. Otherwise, you risk burning the aloe vera.
The jar is too small.
This was mentioned earlier in the “transplant stress” section, but since it may be separate from this issue, it deserves a mention on its own. If your aloe vera is in a pot that is too small, the roots may not have enough room to grow enough to support your plant. This can make the plant unstable and knock it over.
It is imperative that your aloe vera be in a properly sized pot with the correct holes for drainage. Ideally, when you first plant an aloe vera plant, the roots should cover about two-thirds of the pot. This gives them room to grow. When it’s time to repot the plant, increase the size one pot at a time.
conclusion
I hope I have given you all the tools you need to identify the reason for your aloe plant and have shown you how to get your plant back to full health. As you have seen, there are many possible reasons why you might be hanging aloe.
Once you identify the problem, you can act quickly to fix it. Aloe vera is a hardy and resistant plant that can survive for a long time. As long as you are observant and diligent, you can get your aloe to bloom in no time.