Aloe Vera is a super easy plant that does not require much care or maintenance. It is also a very versatile plant and can be used for various purposes, such as medicinal treatments and skincare. This plant is also known for being a great source of antioxidants and vitamins, which makes it a healthy addition to any home or garden.
But growing aloe vera is not usually easy as this plant is native to the African desert and requires some specific conditions to grow properly. For example, the plant may not produce any Aloe Vera gel if grown in the wrong soil type. Also, when this plant is given more water than it needs, it may start developing root rot and yellow leaves.
In this article, we will address a specific issue about aloe vera: the fall of the leaves. So, read on if you want to know if the aloe vera leaves fall off and how to avoid this problem when you grow this plant.
Do Aloe Vera Leaves Fall Off?
Aloe Vera will fall off when the plant is not cared for properly. Especially when the plant experience overwatering or little sunlight exposure. But, generally, aloe vera is a vigorous plant that can survive the most hostile conditions and maintain strong leaves without optimum care.
To prevent the aloe vera plant from falling off, you should water the plant once a week during summer and once every other week in winter. This will keep the soil not too wet or too dry. Also, providing the plant with at least six hours of sunlight exposure is a factor that will strengthen aloe vera leaves and prevent them from falling off.
The leaves of aloe vera may fall off on some rare occasions. When this happens, they can be replanted by removing the old stem and planting the new one in fresh soil. The leaf itself can be used to make good alternative medicine.
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Why Do Aloe Vera Leaves Fall Off?
There can be several reasons why aloe vera leaves fall off. One reason is that the plant is not getting enough water. Another reason is that the plant is not getting enough sunlight. If the plant does not get enough water or sunlight, the leaves will turn yellow and then fall off.
But other factors may contribute to the defoliation of the aloe vera plant. Here is an exhaustive list of all the factors that may make aloe vera leaves fall off:
- Overwatering: Overwatering makes aloe vera leaves fall off because the plant needs time to dry out between waterings. When the soil is constantly wet, the roots can’t get enough air and rot. This will kill the roots, and the leaves will start to fall off.
- Underwatering: Underwatering is not a common factor that causes aloe vera leaves to fall off because this plant can survive the lack of water without any problem. But, when the plant doesn’t get enough water for several weeks, the leaves will drop and eventually fall off. Therefore, you need to water your aloe vera plant regularly, especially during the summer when the plant grows more actively.
- Lack of Sunlight: When the aloe vera plant does not receive enough sunlight, the leaves will droop and turn yellow. That’s why it’s highly recommended to provide aloe Vera plants with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Placing an aloe vera plant in a sunny spot near a window is the best way to ensure it gets enough light. But you can use grow light to help your aloe plant get the light it needs.
- Soil Is Not Well-Draining: One common problem with growing aloe vera is that the leaves will often fall off the plant due to a lack of drainage in the soil. This can be remedied by adding sand or perlite to the soil to improve drainage. A well-draining soil will also help keep the roots healthy, and the plant can absorb the exact quantity of water it needs.
- Fungal Infection: Fungal infection is a common problem affecting aloe vera plants’ leaves. This infection causes the leaves to fall off, and the plant will eventually die if it does not get immediate treatment. Symptoms of a fungal infection include brown spots on the leaves and the growth of white fungal spores on the surface of the leaves. If you notice one of these symptoms, you should automatically treat your plant using fungicide sprays or powders.
- Growing an Unhealthy Plant: you may be doing everything right with your aloe vera plant but still getting defoliation. In this case, you should conclude that you initially didn’t choose a healthy aloe plant. That’s why verifying your cutting at the beginning of the process is essential by checking for fungal infections, brown spots, and root rot.
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What Should I Do When Aloe Vera Leaves Fall Off?
When the leaves of your aloe vera plant start falling off, you should reduce the amount of water you give to the plant and try to increase the amount of light you provide it. If your watering schedule is on point and you give the plant at least six hours of sunlight a day, you can check for other factors, such as soil drainage and fungal infection.
Here is a complete checklist of all the aspects that you will need to control when aloe vera leaves start to fall off and what to do in every situation:
Check the Light: Look at the leaves to check if your plant is getting enough light. If they turn yellow or brown, your plant is not getting enough light. In this case, you should move your plant to a brighter spot or use a grow light.
Check for Overwatering: to know if your plant has more water than it needs, you can use a moister meter. If the moister meter indicates that the soil is very wet, you should reduce your watering frequency.
Check Your Pot’s Drainage: You can do this by looking at the soil. If the soil is wet, the drainage is not good. You can also check the drainage by pouring water into the soil. If the water does not drain quickly, it means that the drainage is not adequate. In this case, you should change the soil mix and aim for cactus soil, as it provides the necessary drainage to grow healthy aloe vera.
Check for Fungal Infection: you can use your phone’s camera zoom to inspect for fungal. If you are sure of the fungal infection, you can use a liquid aloe product or a blend of enzymes and vitamins/minerals to kill the fungus.
The most important thing to do if the leaves of your aloe start to fall off is not t panic or overreact. In fact, many people, in this case, try to take different actions at once, which may destroy the plant. I advise trying one action, then waiting for a few days and seeing the results. If you don’t see any improvements, you can try another thing. Trying many things at once may shock the plant!
Did your aloe vera leaves turn yellow? Here is the cause.
How to Prevent Aloe Vera Leaves from Falling Off?
To prevent aloe vera leaves from falling off, you will need to provide an environment similar to the one to which this plant is native. In other words, the more you increase the temperature and sunlight exposure, the more healthy your aloe vera will get. Another critical factor that will help prevent the leaves of your aloe vera from falling off is proper watering.
Here are the main actions that you can take to prevent your aloe vera leaves from falling off:
Prevent Aloe Vera Leaves from Falling Off by Providing Enough Light
To give your aloe vera plant enough light, you may need to move it to a sunnier spot in your home or garden. You can also try placing it in a south-facing window. During winter, you can use fluorescent light to help the plant get all the light it needs for its growth.
Fluorescent light is an easy and affordable way to grow aloe vera at home. Place the plant near a fluorescent lightbulb, and ensure it receives at least six hours of light per day.
Prevent Aloe Vera Leaves from Falling Off by Adopting a Systematic Watring Schedule
Aloe vera is a little bit sensitive when it comes to watering. In fact, giving the plant less water than it needs will make the leaves dry and weak, but overwatering can cause the leaves to fall off. Hence the importance of using a systématic approach for watering this plant. For example, you can test the dryness of the soil before watering your aloe vera, then water your plant only when the soil feels dry.
To test the dryness of the soil, you can insert your index finger into the soil up to the second knuckle. If the soil is dry, it will be easy to remove your finger; if the soil is wet, your finger will be challenging to remove.
Another device you can use to test the soil of your aloe vera before watering is a moister meter. Generally, those devices come in the form of a metal rod with a pointed end and a scale on the other. To use it, you insert the pointed end into the soil and pull it out. The scale will indicate the level of moisture in the ground.
Water Your Aloe Vera Plant Correctly
After ensuring that your aloe vera needs water, you should thoroughly water it. To do so, you should pour the water directly onto the soil until it is wet all the way through, then allow the top few inches to dry out before watering again. Ensure to avoid getting the leaves wet, as this can cause them to rot.
After watering your aloe vera plant, you need to make sure that you remove any standing water from the saucer, as this may also cause the leaves to fall off. In fact, if there is any standing water in the saucer of your pot, it is essential to remove it as soon as possible. This will help to prevent the pot from becoming waterlogged and will help to keep the soil in the pot moist. To remove the water, pour it out of the saucer and place it into a sink or bucket.
Use a Well Draining Soil
Another factor that will help your aloe vera preserve its leaves as solid and healthy is soil drainage. Generally, well-draining soil is what experts recommend for this plant. This soil is easy to make by adding sand and perlite to your potting mix. The sand will help to improve drainage, while the perlite will help to keep the soil light and airy.
Adding sand to the soil of succulents will also help to improve drainage and aeration. It also helps to prevent the soil from becoming compacted, which can prevent some problems, such as poor water retention and the inability of the roots to get oxygen.
Increase Temperature to Prevent Your Aloe Vera Leaves from Falling Off
If you want your aloe vera plant to preserve its leaves, you should also maintain a temperature between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You can do a few things to reach and maintain this temperature level. You can place a heating pad near the plant or use air conditioning if it’s available.
Other options, like covering the plant with a blanket or putting the pot in a larger container filled with hot water, are not recommended as they may hurt the plant.
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