A lot of people face “droopy aloe plant” or its leaves bending sideways and you don’t know the exact reason why its happening. This is a problem of limp aloe plant can it can be fixed with accurate solution i provided below before that Thanks to aloe vera medicinal properties inside its leaves we use it in our day to day life. Aloe plants are easy to care for but for some caring issues aloe plants get limp and droopy, else normally they are tall and stand still healthy. Wilting, Curling is a sign of how much your plant is struggling, not getting enough water. Now We will discuss and find out what happened to your succulent & how to fix droopy aloe plant.
Droopy Aloe Plant
If your aloe plant is drooping, it could be due to too much or too little light. Sudden changes in temperature or watering can also cause drooping. To save a drooping aloe plant, move it to a location with better lighting and adjust your watering schedule. Be sure to check for any signs of pests or fungal infections.
Aloe plant itself is very popular with its low maintenance care and high end medical benefits makes it one of the growing succulent in everyone’s household. Leaves filled with transparent gel that can treat burn wounds faster then normal method according to National Center for Biotechnology Information.
List of reasons explained why is my aloe vera plant limp?
| Problems | Signs |
| Overwatering | Wilting, Droopy, Not standing |
| Overwatering | Yellow leaves |
| Sunburnt | Brown spots, Brown tips |
| Sunburnt | Dry, Leaf Curl , Leaf bending |
| Underwater | Fungal infection, pests |
| Underwater | Leaves Curling |
Table of Contents
1. Underwatering
Aloe plants are succulent so they grow best in low water but if neglected it can cause leaves to limp, droopy, not standing. I have seen many times that these aloe vera placed in direct light reduce the water on soil which makes it in underwater position but the solution is to give water in the morning or in evening after sunset so roots can absorb water properly.
These plants also stuck with overwatering issues but underwater is not common, mostly happening due to sunlight or wrong placement. Best to fix the droopy aloe plant is by watering the aloe plant immediately once the soil is fully dry and when you water it will lead out from the bottom this means your pot drainage is working perfectly.
Underwatering in aloe plant causes leaf spots, leaves turning brown, drooping, and bending. If given proper care it can revive in 10days and show green leaves rather than thin dried transparent leaves.
2. Insufficient Light
Low or insufficient light is one of the common reasons for aloe plant droopy leaves because generally if the leaves don’t get enough light then it bends down and grows in that direction until the aloe leaf finds the light source. You can check if your aloe plant pot is not placed in a location that is not even getting light and your plant is trying to reach out for light. In this case move the plant to another location and check in 2 weeks if there’s any happiness in the plant’s leaves.
If your aloe plant leaves get back and standing then it works by changing the location of the aloe vera plant. Give it sufficient water it will grow and surely that location would be perfect now.
Sometimes if the damaged aloe plant leaves are not standing in that case you can’t revive them as the leaves have wilted or limp too much. This droopy leaves problem can be solved by providing adequate lighting and water.
Aloe plant minimal requirements once fulfilled will show you new leaves filled with water. Once the plant is mature you can cut those leaves & apply on skin because of its healing properties.
3. Excessive Sunlight
Yes, excessive sunlight can burn the leaves of aloe vera plant thats it why it is considered to be placed in a partial light source area. Best to place aloe vera pot near south facing windows that gets sun for 2-4 hours per day. With that you should think about giving water more often like in 5-6days when soil is completely dry. In aloe plants Too much sunlight causes leaves turning brown, yellowing, leaf spots, leaf burns and dried foliage.
Aloe plant could wilt and droop if not get proper sunlight, with that it shouldn’t get excessive sunlight that could generally harm the leaves and result in lower growth of the plant.
Succulent like aloe don’t generally enjoy heavy sunlight and if it gets then all the water in its leaves dry and it starts to droopy or wilt that could also lead to pest infestation. If anything like droopy situation happens then some people give 2-3 hours direct sunlight to aloe vera and move back the plant in shade. This definitely revives the plant from any further damage and new leaves will grow again.
4. Drainage Issues
If your aloe vera is overwatered because of drainage issues then it can result in droopy aloe plants or wilted leaves. Aloe plants might be struggling to get out of the situation as they don’t like soggy over watered soil, so if they put in wet soil for days then fungal infection can result in root rot that is bad for aloe plants.
To fix the drainage in an aloe plant check for the drainage hole and see if the hole is properly draining water from the bottom. Once you are sure the drainage hole is perfectly working then change the location of your aloe plant pot to direct sunlight so the soil can dry. Once it is dried fully you can water it and place it back to partial light source.
This is the problem of excessive watering, you might give water very often like in 2-3 days and soil doesn’t get time to dry so pathogens infect the root which result in limp foliage.
5. Poor Soil
Sometimes the potting mix used for aloe vera becomes damp and doesn’t properly drain out water in this situation. Result in poor aeration which blocks the supply for air and water to roots that would lead to root rots. You can change the soil or repot it to another pot with a fresh potting mix
This poor soil and bad drainage can lead to limp aloe plants then it is not able to stand back and drop to the soil surface. Sings like browning, light greenish, dried out leaves in aloe plants when droopying. Fixing these droopy leaves would require change of soil and watering only when soil completely dries. This could save the aloe plant.
6. Pot Bound
Your aloe plant might be saying that it is now pot bound as there is no empty space left for roots to develop and this creates stress on leaves and the whole plant. If your plant is small then it will not be a problem but once an aloe plant becomes mature having a certain height filled with those long sharp leaves it will need more space.
Repotting could save your plant or you can propagate the additional leaves on 2 more pots that way you get extra aloe vera plants. If you don’t want to multiply the plant then use a larger pot that can fit to your plant. It should be 2-3 inches bigger and robust because now your plant is big so it needs a strong pot.
7. Diseases
Aloe plant is a succulent that doesn’t require much care and if not grown properly then certain disease can become problematic to aloe vera plant. Some diseases are linked to roots while others are generally on leaves and this disease is often called as fungal and bacterial infections that normally any plant can get if it is not treated correctly. Here are the follow disease in aloe plant:
Leaf spots: Very common problems occur in aloe plants and show signs like round shaped & dotted like spots that are brownish appear on leaves of aloe vera. This problem generally happens due to overwatering or excessive sun.
It does create minor damage to the plant, can be solved with change of location and schedule watering.
Basal Stem Rot: As name suggests this type of rotting occurs at the base of the aloe plant stem and it is serious to houseplant of any type not only aloe vera. Signs like the shoot or base section of root turning brown this browning is called basal stem rot. This is actually a fungal infection and can be saved by pruning some of the damaged part of the plant and remember don’t hurt other parts of the plant.
If the majority of the plant is rotted then find a healthy leaf cutting and try to propagate it in water for like 10-15 days. Multiple cutting can truly save the aloe you will be able to make new baby plants.
Don’t worry about water propagation, it works and yes it will not rot in water as rotting only happens when damp soil where fungal infection is born so rooting them in water will be helpful.
Tip : change water every 3 days to avoid pathogens.
Pythium and Phytophthora Rot : These 2 fungal diseases cause root rot in aloe plants and your plant leaves may turn brown, dark and have leaf spots. Pythium fungus can damage the new rooting and tips while phytophthora rot can infect roots in soil if it is overwatered and signs like drooping, bending of leaves can occur.
Aloe rust: It’s a fungal disease that occurs due to water molecules present in the surrounding and also the soil is wet and the environment is too cold. Although aloe rust is limited to the spot it appears and even this is not a serious disease if you check soil with index finger inserted on the soil surface about 2 inch if it’s dry then only give water, to avoid this you should not water aloe plants too much.
signs of aloe rust are yellowing spots appear and then these spots turn into brown but yes luckily it doesn’t spread much so the plant can be saved.
Soft Rot: This is a common bacterial infection occurring in aloe plants due to overwatering and wet soil that result in wilting, drooping leaves and once the leaves have enough moisture it allows the bacteria to thrive and infect the plant. It is highly serious because it does impact the whole plant and sometimes we can’t revive the plant if it was damaged heavily by soft rot.
Mostly likes you will notice this if your aloe plant become droopy or turn light green, bend over , feels soggy, watery and yellowish leaves. This happens due to overwatering or watering multiple times in a week as you know this depends on the climate, season and your placed location.
Sooty mold: These are again fungal diseases but happen once the pest infectes your aloe plant. Generally mealybugs and aphids are there to suck the juice from the aloe leaves and make it dry. Once it is dry the plant leaf will not have enough water so the leaf might not stand and drop or bend. Even they leave a sticky glue that creates problems like mold and this way starts the development of fungal infection.
You can fix these insect issues. Below I have explained.
8. Pest Infestation
Aloe vera plant can get infected by 2 of these pest one is aphids and other is mealy bugs. Both have 1 thing in common : that it weakens plant growth by sucking all the juice of aloe plants and makes it susceptible to bacterial infection. If we talk about mealybugs they generally cause leaves to turn yellow and wilted and in some cases leaves may seem to drop while the aphids do suck the plant sap but leaves curl up is one such sign of its presence and in some cases leaf dropping could happen.
Both of these infect the aloe plant so by using a insecticide you are able to counter both these and save your aloe plant.
Here the link to shop- Insect Spray
About Aloe Vera :
| Family | Asphodelaceae |
| Scientific Name | Aloe barbadensis miller |
| Native | Arabian Peninsula |
| Other Names | Cape aloe,Aloe plant, Chinese aloe, Barbados Aloe |
| Plant Type | Perennial, Succulent |
| Hardiness zone | 4a to 8b |
| Grown | Pots, Containers, Gardens, |
| Height | 24-40 inches(50-101cm) |
| Growth rate | Slower |
| Soil | Well draining, Fertile |
| Light Requirement | Partial Sunlight, Full Sun(Can Tolerate) |
| Fertilizer | Liquid based |
| USDA hardiness | Zone 8 – 11 |
| Blooming Season | Summer |
| Flower Color | Orange, Red, Yellow |
| Leaf Color | Green, Spiky Shape |
| Growth Rate | Slow growing |
| Benefits | For Skin and Body |
| Uses | Cosmetics, skin creams |
| Toxicity | Mild toxic |
Aloe vera varieties :
Aloe vera has more than 400+ species so I am naming the popular ones.
- Aloe Maculata
- Aloe Broomii
- Aloe Ferox
- Aloe Aculeata
- Aloe Perryi
- Aloe Nyeriensis
- Aloe Succotrina
- Aloe Capitata, etc
How Do You Fix Droopy Aloe plant?
To fix droopy aloe plant:
- If you aloe plant leaves are completely limp on the ground & looks dry then try to give aloe plant water as this is due to underwatering. After watering, observe the plant once it stands back then you know that this is the cause of less watering.
- If your aloe plant is limp then it might be searching for the light source as most people grow this in indoor partial to shade that reduces its growing capability that’s why its leaves become thin and droopy so keeping them in direct sunlight for 3-4 hours in the morning would give it boost and its leaves can again stand tall after that aloe will surely grow. These plants don’t like too much light and cause sunburns so you should move aloe plant back and forth in shade to direct sun. Continuing this for 2 weeks you will notice the plant is recovering. Don’t place aloe in an intense sunlight area or in the afternoon because at that time light is too much for small plants like aloe vera and it can be harmful and damage the leaves if placed for a minimum 2-3 hours.
- If your whole aloe plant becomes limp & brown then propagate a new aloe vera from a healthy shoot as now we can’t save it. Too less Sunlight, underwatering and overwatering are the cases that shocks the aloe plant. If you immediately see the problem and rectify it then it may revive but once the plant is damaged from inside as well it is not going to get back on its feet. So you may always find a leaf or shoot that can be propagated to revive aloe plants or just try and put some of the shoots(generally have roots) in a glass of water. In 2 weeks you may see some growth before cleaning the roots properly as we don’t want any pathogen to infect our plant. Also change water every 3 days so it is free from fungal disease. It will surely root on water.
- Aloe plants may become limp if you change the watering schedule as these plants need more water so they can store in its foliage and save it for dry days. watering your aloe plant is necessary in summers and reduces water in winters, this is my tips to the readers.
Final Words
I hope I am able to clear your doubts and what is the causes of “droopy aloe plant”. Generally if you follow this guide you can get rid of this problem. Aloe plant is easy growing so anything excessive can affect it whether it is over watering or excess light conditions.
Also you can check out other similar posts. Thank you.