11 reasons why aloe leaves droop and how to fix it

You’ve probably heard about how powerful the aloe vera plant is. So what does it mean if your aloe plant starts to drop its leaves? Don’t be disappointed! Falling aloe leaves are actually quite common and can have many causes. Please read through our list below to find a suitable solution. With a little care, your aloe vera plant can grow straight up and fresh again.

Table of Contents

The tree is waterlogged.

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Too much standing water can rot the plant’s roots, leading to drooping leaves. You can scratch the soil with your fingernail to see if it is wet or has standing water; If so, it means the plant is waterlogged. Stop watering to give the plant a chance to dry out again. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Most aloe plants only need to be watered every few days, even once a week.

The tree is deprived of water.

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Touch the ground to check for moisture and water as it dries. Aloe vera is a dry plant, but if it doesn’t get enough water, its leaves will curl and wilt. Water the plant just enough to drench the soil and stop watering as soon as you see the water drain out of the bottom of the pot. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Royal Horticultural Society Go to Source}

Let the soil dry completely before watering again.

Ambient temperature is too cold.

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Your aloe plant can drop its leaves if the ambient temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius. Aloe vera is a hot arid plant, so it can wilt in cold weather. If possible, bring the plant indoors or move it to a warmer room in the house. Usually the plant will be fresh again within a few days after being moved to a warm place. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If you can’t bring the plant indoors when it’s too cold, you can wrap wool or foam around the base of the tree to protect the roots from freezing. ^{[4] X Trusted Source Royal Horticultural Society Go to Source}

The tree is overheated.

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If the weather is hot and dry for several days, your aloe plant may start to curl or wilt. Although aloe likes heat, if the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, the heat can damage the plant! If possible, move the plant to a shaded or cooler area. If you can’t move the tree to another place, water it more to keep the leaves moist. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If your area has a hotter or drier climate than usual, you may want to adjust your watering schedule so you can check on your plants more often.

The plant does not receive enough light.

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Place aloe vera in a place where the plant receives 6 hours of sunlight a day to create the best growing conditions for the plant. You may notice the leaves of an aloe plant drooping in low light. If possible, move the plant to a brighter location in your home or yard. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If you have potted aloe vera on a windowsill, rotate the pot weekly so that all sides of the plant receive enough light. The tree may begin to fall to one side if that side is always exposed to the sun.

Trees need support.

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Support the aloe plant as it grows to help keep the leaves upright. If all the leaves are down, stick 3 or 4 bamboo sticks into the soil around the base of the tree. Have someone collect the leaves and keep them upright, while you tie the string around to connect the bamboo sticks together. Wrap a few more loops of string around the bamboo sticks to form a kind of support cage around the aloe plant. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The leaves will be supported by bamboo sticks and ropes around.
Leave the bamboo sticks as they are until the roots are stable and the leaves begin to grow upright on their own.
If you don’t want to make your own stakes, you can use a set of commercially available small tree stands. Plug the supports of the stand kit into the ground around the aloe vera plant.

The pot is too shallow.

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Transfer the aloe plant to a deep, well-drained pot. The falling leaves of the aloe vera plant may just be because the plant is so big that the top is heavy and the roots cannot grow deep down to keep the tree balanced. Find a pot that is at least as big as the roots of the plant to replant. Don’t forget to use loose, well-drained soil. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Terracotta pots are ideal for growing aloe vera plants. The pot’s breathable porous material will help keep the soil dry between waterings, so the roots won’t become waterlogged.

Bend the plant if you want the leaves to grow straight.

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Most aloe plants tend to grow slightly reclined. If you like plants with upright leaves, start bending at a young age by wrapping very thin wire around the outer ring of the plant. Use plastic coated wire that is available at gardening stores. Pull the ends of the wire together so that the leaves are compact and pointing straight up. Leave it like that for the plant to start growing upwards. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Leave the wire in place for at least a few days – you’re shaping the plant to grow in the direction you want it to, so if you remove the wire too soon, the plant may start to grow sideways again.

Separate the plant that grows out of the pot.

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Some aloe plants have clusters of seedlings that protrude out of the pot. This shouldn’t be a problem, but you may need to separate the shoots that grow at the base of the tree. Use a small garden spade to cut off the shoots and their roots from the parent plant. Leave the seedlings in a warm room for 2 days to dry to harden the roots. You can then plant the seedling in another pot that is a little wider than the seedling.

Sometimes you just need to loosen the soil, separate and lift the seedlings instead of digging with a spade.
Some varieties of aloe do not grow as tall and straight as others. It is possible that the plant you are growing is an aloe plant that grows in clusters on the ground. ^{[10] X Research Source}

The tree is infested with insects.

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Check leaves for bugs such as scale insects or mealybugs. These insects suck the water in the leaves, causing the leaves to curl or wilt. Sometimes you just need to spray the plants with water to dislodge the pests. If that doesn’t work, you can spray a non-toxic insecticide like neem oil on the leaves to get rid of the pests as soon as possible. ^{[11] X Research Source}

The tree is infected with a fungus.

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Inspect the roots near the outer ring leaves to see if the root fibers are easily broken. Rotten roots will be black and rotten. If you can easily lift the aloe vera plant, you will find that most of the roots are shriveled and left in the pot. The roots may also smell of rotting. Unfortunately, plants with root rot will be very difficult to treat, so you will have to plant another tree and remember to reduce watering. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If you want to save the plant, remove the plant from the pot and cut off all the diseased roots, then plant in a new pot with new soil that has good drainage.

Steps