Why Your Aloe Vera Is Dying—and 7 Easy Fixes That Will Bring It Back

Aloe vera plants are resilient succulents that can withstand inconsistent watering and periods of neglect, but that doesn't mean they're not without their issues. If your aloe plant is on death's door, it's typically a sign that something in its environment is amiss. To help you salvage your struggling plant so you can continue enjoying its beauty (and harvesting fresh aloe!), we spoke to gardening experts who shared their tips for reviving a dying aloe plant.

Meet Our Expert

• Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, founder of  The Houseplant Guru

• Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the  Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Related: How to Grow and Care for Aloe Vera, Both Indoors and Outside

Adjust the Watering Schedule 

The aloe plant is a succulent, meaning it stores water in its leaves and is susceptible to overwatering . If your plant looks like it's struggling, start by adjusting its watering schedule. Dry, brown leaves are a sign of underwatering, while mushy leaves mean the soil is too wet. "Always check the soil moisture level before watering," says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, founder of The Houseplant Guru. "The aloe should be allowed to dry out significantly."

Trim Dead Leaves 

On the other hand, if your plant goes without water for too long, it may develop brown leaves on the bottom. "Trim them off and adjust your watering," says Steinkopf. "The plant doesn't want to completely dry out." She notes that the bottom leaves may also die back because they are the oldest leaves, and naturally die with age. "If your plant is well taken care of and has no obvious problems other than a dead leaf at the bottom of the plant, it may just be an old leaf that has reached the end of its life," she says.

Adjust Light Exposure 

The aloe plant needs adequate indirect sunlight to thrive. "If it's kept too wet and in too little light, your plant will definitely suffer," says Steinkopf. That said, avoid giving it too much light, as this can bleach the plant's foliage. Steinkopf recommends putting it a foot or so back from a south-facing or west-facing window. 

Propagate the Plant

It's possible your aloe plant has outgrown its current container and needs to be divided into smaller plants. "The existing plant can be taken out of the pot," says Andrew Bunting, vice president of horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society. "Using a sharp knife, cuts can be made between the separate plants and through the roots. As this is done, the plants will separate, and the obvious individual plants with roots will be revealed. These individual plants can then be potted into individual pots."

Trim Mushy Roots

If the leaves of your aloe plant are drooping and yellow, remove the plant from its container and trim back any mushy roots. "If there are mushy roots, it may mean your plant was allowed to stay wet for too long," says Steinkopf, cautioning that it may be too far gone to fix. In the best-case scenario, there will be enough healthy roots left after trimming to keep the plant growing. Repot the plant in fresh potting soil and scale back your watering schedule.

Avoid Fertilizing

It's best to avoid fertilizing if your aloe plant is having issues. "Who wants a heavy meal when they're not feeling well?" says Steinkopf. "It's better to find the problem and deal with it before adding fertilizer." If you do want to give your aloe plant a nutrient boost, she recommends using an  organic fertilizer  rather than a synthetic one, as they are less harsh and won't burn your plant.

Identify Pests and Diseases

If you've tried the above and your plant is still suffering, it may have a pest infestation or a fungal disease. "Aloe may occasionally have a fungus or disease, which will display itself in dark spots or mushy leaves," says Steinkopf. Common pest issues include scale, mealybugs , or spider mites . Do your research to identify the pest or disease, then treat it accordingly. Luckily, Steinkopf says that if your plant is grown well in the right light, with the right moisture, and the right fertilizer, you probably won't have problems with insects or diseases.

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