Succulents are easy for the amateur gardener. At least, that’s what you’ve always heard until you’ve finally decided to purchase a beautiful aloe vera plant. Within a few months, your aloe vera isn’t looking so great, and your question is, why do aloe vera plants turn white?
Aloe vera plants turn white due to poor growing conditions. Water, sunlight, and nutrients are all essential factors in growing a healthy aloe vera plant. Powdery mildew and a lack of nitrogen can cause discoloration and a white appearance.
Succulents are low effect, but they need love and the right growing conditions to be healthy. In this article, we’ll talk about what makes your aloe vera plant turn white and what you can do to reverse this. Keep reading to become an expert!
9 Reasons Why Your Aloe Vera Plant Is Turning White
Everyone thinks succulents like aloe vera are easy to grow, but aloe vera plants still need the right conditions.
Here are some of the most common reasons your aloe vera plant may turn white.
You’re Giving Aloe Vera Plant Too Much Water
Succulents do not need as much water as other types of plants, and the aloe vera is no different. It can be easy to overwater your aloe vera plants.
You should only water your aloe vera every three weeks or so. In the winter, you should wait even longer between watering your plant.
You might be tempted to give your aloe vera plant lots of water when you do, but you do not need that much water. Give your plant enough water to wet the soil each time you water your plant.
Let the soil dry down an inch or two before you give your aloe vera plant more water to avoid drowning your aloe vera.
Your Aloe Vera’s Soil Isn’t Draining Correctly
Succulents need to be in well-draining soil. You may not be overwatering your aloe vera, but if the soil isn’t draining, you may inadvertently give your plant too much water.
You should first ensure that the pot your aloe vera is planted in has drainage holes at the bottom so the water does not sit.
Don’t put your aloe vera plant in a pot that is too deep. Even with drainage holes at the bottom, the pot may hold too much water for your aloe vera plant.
Your Aloe Vera Plant Is Getting Too Much Sunlight
Too much sunlight can scorch your aloe vera leaves and make the color drain from them.
Aloe vera plants like bright light, but it should be indirect light. It is happiest when it has about 6-8 hours of light.
If you put your aloe vera in the window or outside on a porch, it may get too much sunlight.
Use artificial light if you cannot find that happy medium for your aloe vera plant.
There Isn’t Enough Sunlight For Your Aloe Vera
As annoying as it can be when you give your aloe vera too much light, your aloe vera can turn white when there isn’t enough sunlight.
Succulents will let you know when they need something, like sunlight. If your aloe vera isn’t getting enough sunlight either, it’ll scream at you for more sun by turning white – or even start to get white spots.
You Moved Your Aloe Vera And Changed Its Sunlight
So you’ve figured out your aloe vera either isn’t enough sunlight or is getting too much sunlight. You decide to move it – and would you believe it, your aloe vera is still upset after the sudden change in the sunlight!
I know, I know. You might want to scream after moving your aloe vera plant and see it turn more white.
I wouldn’t worry, though. Give your succulent a few weeks to adjust to the new location to see if your succulent’s color gets returned.
Your aloe vera plant is simply in a little bit of shock since you moved it to another location in your house.
Your Aloe Vera Isn’t Getting Enough Nutrients
Most aloe vera plants won’t start to die without fertilizer and nutrients, but sometimes, your plant needs to be fed.
Most amateur gardeners don’t like to feed their plants or don’t know exactly how to feed them.
Succulents like aloe vera need magnesium and nitrogen, or the plant cannot make chlorophyll – which is the exact thing that helps your aloe vera plant retain its green color. A lack of chlorophyll can mean that your plant may start to turn white.
If you don’t know exactly how to feed your aloe vera plant, talk to someone who works at your local gardening store. They will be able to choose the fertilizer that is right for your aloe vera plant!
Your Aloe Vera Plant Wasn’t Planted In The Right Kind Of Soil
If you feel like you’ve been doing everything right with sunlight and water, look at the kind of soil that your aloe vera is planted.
Did you know special soil is made for succulents, including aloe plants? Well, there is!
One of the main reasons regular soil is not always good for succulents is that it absorbs and retains too much water, meaning that your aloe may turn white.
Soil that holds too much water can:
- Cause your aloe’s roots to rot
- Drown your aloe vera plant
- Drain improperly
The Temperature Isn’t Right For Your Aloe Vera Plant
If you prefer to leave your aloe vera plant outside on a deck or porch, your aloe vera plant may be shocked by temperature changes.
Aloe vera plants should never be left out in temperatures below 50 degrees because aloe vera is a tropical plant.
Sudden temperature changes can also cause your aloe vera plant to turn brown or white.
The temperature outside can dip low during the night and go back up during the day, especially in the spring and fall. This can damage your aloe vera plant.
Keep your aloe vera plant inside and away from windows to avoid your aloe vera plant from experiencing temperature changes.
Your Aloe Vera Has Mildew
The above reasons can also cause your aloe vera plant to have mildew, which turns the aloe vera plant white.
Mildew happens when your aloe vera plant is attacked by a pest, like an aphid or mealybug.
Mildew can quickly ravage your aloe vera plant, turning it completely white or littering it with white spots.
How Do I Get My Aloe Vera Green Again
You can get your aloe vera plant to turn green again by cutting away parts of the plant leaves that are white or weak.
We already covered a few reasons why your aloe vera plant has turned white. Thankfully, fixing the issues can revive your aloe vera plant within a few weeks.
However, there are times that your aloe vera plant won’t turn green again. At that point, you’ll need to cut away the parts of the aloe vera plant that do not look healthy.
Carefully cut away the leaves that have not turned green again, making sure to go all the way to the base of the plant. Use a sharp knife; do not simply crack them off with your hands.
Be careful when you are handling your aloe vera plant. Even though your plant may be white and weaker, the sides of the leaves can still be sharp.
Hi there, my name is Allie and welcome to my blog; GareningWithAllie!
Much of what you see written here is just our personal experiences with gardening. Along with the content I write here, there is also a unique collection of gardening topics covered by some of our close friends. I hope you find everything you read here to be helpful, informative, and something that can make your gardening journey the most lovely experience ever! With that said, Happy Gardening!