Aloe vera is one of the most popular houseplants in the world. Its unique appearance and beneficial properties distinguish this plant from other indoor plants. Like other houseplants, aloe vera can make you sick.
Is your aloe vera plant turning dark green? Don’t worry, this is a common problem you will face if you have an aloe plant in your home. I will explain the causes and of course how to fix it.
Overwatering is the main reason aloe vera plants turn dark green and mushy. Also, temperature fluctuations, a lack of phosphorus, a lack of potassium, an excess of nitrogen are the most possible causes. Identify the cause and take steps to correct them, your aloe will be fine.
Wait, you might be wondering if the aloe vera plant turning dark green is a real problem. Keep reading, you will have your answer.
Aloe vera plant turns dark green and how to fix it
First you need to identify the problem and then move on to the solutions. Let’s find out what the potential problem is so that you can identify your own problem and apply the solution.
Aloe vera plant turns dark green due to over watering
You know that desert plants can survive on minimal water and they don’t tolerate too much water. Well, you can grow aloe in any climate, but it will always be a desert plant.
So what does an overwatered aloe plant look like? If you overwater the aloe, it will show symptoms such as soft, dark green leaves. For obvious reasons, this is not good for your aloe plant.
What happens if you overwater your aloe vera? In this case, the aloe absorbs more water than it needs and tries to store it in the leaves. In other words, it absorbs more water than it can handle.
Here is the danger of that! Aloe vera cells burst due to water stress. As a result, you will see the dark green discoloration and smooth appearance of your aloe plant.
How to fix
If you are in the early stages, it is possible to revive your aloe vera. You just need to follow the watering rules.
Now let your aloe container dry for several weeks (at least 2-3 weeks). What water it regularly once every two weeks.
Make sure the soil drains water well from the pot. The drainage hole at the bottom of the pot is very important. Make sure the holes work.
You water well, but there is still water in the pot – this does not bring any results.
I wrote a step by step article on how to save overworked aloe plants. It will help you a lot to solve the problem.
Another thing to keep in mind is that too much water promotes fungal diseases like root rot. So check if the root system is correct. Otherwise, you will have to transplant it into a new pot.
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Temperature Fluctuations Aloe Turns Dark Green
In summer, aloe vera feels great at room temperature. And in winter, when the plant is sleeping, it should be kept cool at a temperature of about 15°C.
If you can’t guarantee your desired temperature, your aloe will tell you that you have symptoms. For example, if you come from a cold region, the water in the pitcher may freeze overnight.
The juice from aloe leaves cannot withstand freezing temperatures. As a result, plant tissues are damaged and discoloration symptoms such as dark green appear.
How to fix
Make sure your aloe is not damaged by extreme temperature fluctuations during the day and night. Keep your aloe warm at night when it’s freezing outside. Keep it at normal room temperature and your aloe vera will work just fine.
Important!
Do not put your aloe outside after watering it in winter. The water will freeze and damage your aloe plant.
Excess nitrogen can cause aloe to turn dark green.
With excess nitrogen, aloe vera turns dark green, large and smooth. The color of the leaves becomes saturated dark green, and the lower leaves begin to darken first.
In succulents, including aloe vera, excess nitrogen causes the skin to thin, crack, kill the plant, or leave unsightly scars.
When applying fertilizer, excess fertilizer builds up in the potting mix. Here’s how to fix it.
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How to fix
If you’ve overdosed on fertilizer, you need to balance it out somehow. Fortunately, there is an easy way to do this.
By covering your potting mix, you can minimize excess nitrogen in the soil.
How do you mulch now and what should you use to mulch the soil? To balance the nitrogen, cover the potting soil with sawdust or wood shavings.
Science is; when the sawdust or wood chips begin to decompose, they deplete soil nitrogen and as a result, soil nitrogen reaches an acceptable limit.
Observation!
Nitrogen is also extracted naturally from the soil with irrigation water.
Aloe vera plant turns dark green due to excess potassium
Potassium is one of the essential primary elements of aloe vera or any other plant.
But with excess potassium, the growth rate of your aloe vera will slow down.
Also, in this case, the leaves acquire a dark green tint, and the new leaves become smaller. Excess potassium makes it difficult to absorb elements such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, etc.
How to fix
Use an organic fertilizer for your potting soil. This fertilizer prevents the accumulation of certain elements such as potassium.
Also loosen the soil and water it abundantly. Make sure the water is draining from the pot. In this way, excess fertilizer is removed from the soil.
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Lack of phosphorus causes Aloe Vera to turn dark green
It’s rare, but it can cause dark green aloe vera leaves. In addition, growth slows down, leaf dieback increases, brown or reddish-brown spots appear, turning into holes.
Phosphorus deficiency is more common in slightly acidic soils with low organic matter content.
How to fix
Using organic fertilizers is the best option to counter nutritional deficiency symptoms.
Bone meal, manure is an excellent source of phosphorus for topsoil. You can also use commercially available NPK fertilizers.
conclusion
Aloe vera is happy if you meet its requirements. This plant is very sensitive to errors in care, but if you apply the correct rules, it will very quickly come back to life.
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