Aloes make excellent houseplants because they are generally very forgiving. Aloes do not need a lot of water and only need moderate light. Despite their hardiness though, sometimes they start drooping.
Aloes can droop when they have inadequate sunlight, water, temperature, or a bad container. Drooping aloe may also be caused by a fungal infection.
12 Reasons Your Aloe Plant Is Drooping
- Too much sun
- Too little sun
- Overwatering
- Underwatering
- Too hot
- Too cold
- Too small of a pot
- Too large of a pot
- Insufficient drainage
- Transplant stress
- Disease
- Pests
Too Much Sun
Aloe should ideally have six hours of direct sunlight per day. If they are put in a place where they get more sun than this, they will get sunburnt and start to droop. This can be fixed by putting them in a place where they get less sun or giving them some shade.
Too Little Sun
Conversely, if an aloe don’t get enough light, the plant will also droop and wilt because it is not getting enough nutrients from the sun to hold itself up. This is fixed by putting them in a place where they get more sun throughout the day. Southern facing windows are the perfect location.
Overwatering
Aloes that get too much water will start to droop. In more extreme cases, the leaves will feel mushy and soggy.
Too much moisture invites fungus and root rot. The solution is to water less. However, you will also need to check for signs of fungus and root rot and treat those as well.
The best time to water aloe is after the soil is completely dried out. Then you can soak the soil and ignore it until it is dry once again.
Don’t forget, always water your aloe plant from the bottom – NOT the top!
Underwatering
While aloe plants will suffer if they get too much water, it is possible to not give them enough water as well. When aloe plants are not watered, they will start using up the stores of water in their leaves, which will cause wilting and drooping after a while.
Too Hot
Aloe are very drought resistant, however being exposed to too much heat too quickly will make them turn brown and start to droop.
Aloe planted outside will grow resistant to this, but sometimes giving them some shade may help. Aloe kept inside should be kept between the temperatures of 60- and 75-degrees Fahrenheit.
Too Cold
On the flip side, aloe cannot get too cold. Outdoor aloe must be covered or brought inside if temperatures are going to get below 50-degrees. Aloe cannot tolerate frost.
For those who bring their aloe in and out depending on the weather, be sure to gradually introduce them to changes in temperature.
Too Small of a Pot
If an aloe has outgrown its pot, it will become root bound and then the roots can no longer support the plant because they cannot get any bigger, nor can they get any more nutrients from the soil.
While aloe typically develop shallower roots, it is not a good idea to give them too shallow of a pot or the roots will not be able to support the weight of the plant.
Too Large of a Pot
When repotting aloe, do not go up too many sizes of pot at a time. Ideally the roots will take up about two-thirds of the pot when it has just been repotted. If the pot is too big, the aloe will drown in the excess soil.
This does not apply to aloe planted outside, however.
Insufficient Drainage
This issue is tangentially related to overwatering. You may be watering your aloe enough to soak the soil, but then the water does not drain properly because the pot lacks a drain hole, the drain hole is too small, or something is blocking the drain hole.
Some people like to put large rocks at the bottom of the pot with their aloe in it and then cover those with the soil to encourage better drainage, just be sure that the size of the rock does not completely block the drain hole.
Transplant Stress
Sometimes you have to give your aloe a new pot, whether the plant is root bound or the previous pot broke, it happens.
Transplant stress is best avoided by picking out an appropriately sized pot, keeping the aloe in the same environment aside from the new pot, and not watering it too much right after repotting.
Disease
Aloes are pretty hardy, but there are a few diseases that they can get. Here are some diseases to watch out for. Most of them are caused by too much water.
Aloe Rust:
This is a fungal disease caused by too much moisture or too cool of temperatures. It causes yellow and brown spots on the leaves. When the fungus gets farther along, you can see orange spores. Treat with a fungicide and regulate the watering and temperature and your aloe should bounce back.
Root Rot:
This is a fungal infection caused by too much moisture. The base and the roots of the aloe turn brown and start rotting. This is a very serious condition. You will have to cut away the affected portions of the aloe plant and in some cases, the plant cannot be saved.
Leaf Rot:
Once again, caused by too much water. The best thing to do is to take off the rotting leaves and let the rest of the plant thrive without them.
Pests
Aphids are a common pest for aloe plants. Aphids can thankfully be managed by oils or pesticides. If you do not want to spray harsh chemicals on your plant, there are plenty of holistic methods you can look into.
Conclusion
While it may seem like aloes are divas when it comes to what environment they need, the answer is that they really just need a temperate, consistent environment. Many of these issues go hand in hand. If it is warmer, the aloe with naturally need more water. Watering more with more heat and light can help mitigate issues caused by those conditions.
Nevertheless, aloe are surprisingly resilient and can bounce back from nearly all of the aforementioned problems.
