The leaves of aloe vera often turn brown in the blazing sun. It is harmless and serves to protect against sunburn. Brown spots on the leaves, however, indicate a lack of nutrients, a fungal disease or care errors.
Why does my aloe vera have brown spots?
Brown spots on aloe vera leaves can be caused by a lack of nutrients, fungal infestation or care errors such as too much water. To remedy the situation, you should reduce the amount of watering, remove affected leaves and, if necessary, check for nutrient deficiencies and fertilize accordingly.
To ensure that your aloe vera looks he althy, the following care instructions should be observed:
- the location should be bright,
- It is best to use soil and sand in a ratio of 50:50 as a substrate,
- Waterlogging should be avoided at all costs.
If entire leaves turn brown when exposed to intense sunlight, this is a natural phenomenon that does not harm the plants. The brown spots, on the other hand, can be a sign of fungal infection. Look closely at the brown spots. Is the discoloration superficial or is the leaf tissue underneath soft? Are only individual leaves or the entire plant affected? The most common cause is actually excessive watering.
Too much water is harmful to aloe vera
It is important that the soil is well drained, as the aloe does not tolerate waterlogging. The houseplant soil should therefore be mixed half with sand. A drainage layer made of clay shards and gravel on the bottom of the pot ensures that excess water can drain away.
Aloe vera is used to surviving for long periods of time without watering. The aloes that are left outside in summer can be watered vigorously about twice a week and the excess water can then be removed. In winter you should only water when the substrate is completely dry.
Nutrient Deficiency
Brown spots that are not soft can also indicate nutrient deficiencies. If you repot your aloe regularly and use fresh soil, you can avoid fertilizing. Otherwise, fertilize sparingly in summer with universal or special fertilizer for succulents (€5.00 on Amazon).
Remedy
To avoid fungus formation, you should never pour your aloe onto the leaves, but always directly onto the substrate. Individual sheets can be easily removed. If the entire plant is infected, repotting it into fresh, dry soil can help, although watering is not allowed for the first few weeks afterwards.
Tip
If you want to grow new aloe plants from cuttings, let them dry for several days after cutting.
