Why do Aloe Plants have Brown Spots? (Ways to Fix Brown Spots)

I recently bought an aloe plant which was growing well, but now it has developed brown spots on its leaves. Is this common? Will it harm my plant? How can I get rid of these spots? These questions were troubling me, so I did some research, which shocked me! 

You might be wondering what shocked me? It’s the realization of my aloe plant dying. Sad, isn’t it? However, I’ve turned my sadness into determination to make my plant healthy and happy

Don’t worry, I’ll share the information I found to save my aloe plant and bring it back to life. Let’s get to work without delay.

Identifying Brown Spots on Aloe Plants:

There is a need to learn ways of identifying brown spots on aloe plants:

Early symptoms of Brown Spots:

• Aloe plants with discoloration are considered the first sign of brown spots.
• Well, having brown spots on the leaves can vary in intensity and pattern.
• Their brown spots may first be small in isolated areas but expand rapidly and further merge into larger patches.
• You need to keep a close eye on any changes in the leaf texture, and if they have a yellowish halo, that is going to result in a more serious condition. 

Know when to Take Action:

• If you find any minor blemishes, just make sure to monitor the plant closely.
• Forming of brown spots When it begins to warp or wilt, take immediate action to prevent the spread of a potential disease.
• Maintaining and growing succulents is tough, but it’s not invincible. 

Causes of Brown Spots on plant leaves:

It’s time to learn the causes behind brown spots on aloe plant leaves, which I’ve explained below:

Overwatering:

• Too much watering will cause the aloe plant’s leaves to turn brown.
• The aloe plant stores extra moisture in its thick succulent leaves, so the plant will easily suffer from overwater than underwater. 
• If the plant leaves turn yellow or brown and having a soft or mushy texture, this is a straight sign of overwatering.

Ways to fix:

• To avoid overwatering, first stop watering the plant and make the soil dry completely. 
• After this, remove all the affected leaves using a sharp and sterilized blade. 
• Make sure to let the soil dry out fully between the watering processes.
• Try using drip trays and saucers so that the plant doesn’t get to sit in water, which can cause brown spots on leaves.
• I will suggest you repot the plant in a terra cotta pot that helps retain excess moisture. 
•  You can also repot the plant with a grittier, faster-draining mix and add some sand or perlite for good drainage.

Underwatering:

• Talking about the aloe plant, it tolerates a lot of the worst conditions, but it’s not indestructible. 
• If the plant does not get to the water for a longer time, facing a lot of sun will cause the leaves to get shriveled or wrinkled, which makes the plant tips turn yellow or brown.

Ways to fix:

• To heal the plant, give it a deep watering from the top by allowing the soil to get fully saturated.
• Avoid getting water on the plant’s leaves or in its rosette because it will lead to the rotting stage. 

Too Much Light:

• Yes, aloe plants love bright light, but there are many possibilities for when they get sunburned. 
• Providing the plant with harsh, direct sunlight can be done by placing it in a west-facing window that is too strong for this rugged plant.
• The plant having too much sun will cause the leaves to have yellow or brown spots.

Ways to fix:

• To protect the aloe plant from harsh sunlight, remove all the affected leaves and relocate the pot near the light source but away from direct sunlight. 
• You can use a sheer curtain that will help filter the bright sunlight because it’s too strong for the plant. 

Cold Damage:

• Brown spots on leaves can also happen when the plant gets exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees for a longer period of time.
• Actually, when there is a sudden shift in temperature, it will result in damage from cold temperatures, causing discoloration and damage to leaves. 
• When the aloe plants are left in frost outdoors, this will cause cold damage to the leaves, resulting in brown spots.   

Ways to fix:

• Yes, the plant can bounce back after suffering from cold damage when you provide it with the right care and conditions. 
• To cure the plant, place it in a warm place where it gets medium to bring indirect light. 
• Make sure to cut off the damaged leaves that are discolored, soft, or translucent.
•  Avoid watering aloe plants for several days and begin watering them again with the same plant’s care routine. 

Pests or diseases:

• The aloe plant gets affected by insects like pests and plant diseases that cause leaves to have brown patches.
• Some pests do appear to have brown spots on the leaves. 
• The scale looks tine, flat, and has brown ovals on the surface and underside of the plant leaves, which do suck sap from the leaves. 
• It is possible to get affected by plant diseases that cause brown spots on aloe plants.
• There are fungal infections called aloe rust that cause the plant to have dry, brown patches, while plants suffering from anthracnose disease will have pitted, rusty brown spots. 

Ways to fix:

• To cure the plant from pests or disease, use a cotton ball or swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, which will keep the scale away.
• Use neem oil or insecticidal soap that helps prevent the plant from getting affected by pests.  
• Make sure to remove the infected leaves using sterilized pruners and dispose of all the plant parts in the trash, after which you can prune the plant again.
• You can treat the fungal infection with an organic houseplant fungicide.
• To treat the plant water directly on the soil surface, keeping all leaves dry will help prevent fungal diseases from coming in the future.

Excess fertilizer:

• Providing the plant with excess fertilizer will damage the roots of an aloe plant, resulting in a brown spot on the leaves.

Ways to fix:

• The aloe plant does have very low nutritional needs. 
• Make the aloe plant get fertilization every 6 to 12 months with a common NPK, i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, that should be in the ratio of 0.5-1-1

Nutritional Issues:

• It’s really hard to determine what causes the plant to have brown spots on the leaves, and it could be because of nutritional deficiency because if the plant is not suffering from water or sun, it’s just because of over-fertilization. 

Ways to fix:

• To protect the plant from nutritional issues, treat the plant with fresh soil and add fertilizer.
• Make sure to apply fertilizer during the growing season. 

Treating Brown Spots on Aloe Plant Leaves:

Adjusting Watering:

• Watering the aloe plant is not a deal that you sometimes overdo or forget. 
• You must adapt to the watering conditions, which change with the change in season. 
• For example, in a cooler, the aloe plant is not thirsty, so water the plant accordingly. 
• Make sure to check the soil before watering the plant, and if you feel the top inches of soil are dry, then you can water the plant. 
• While watering the plant, aim to water it at the base, keeping the leaves dry, which helps to prevent any fungal or bacterial infection. 

Regulating Sunlight:

• The aloe plant loves to have sun but avoids getting sunburned.
• If the plant has crispy brown patches, it means the plant is being exposed more to the sun.
• To treat the plant, move it to a spot with bright, indirect light. 
• Providing the plant with direct sunlight should be done for a few hours, mainly during the intense midday period.
• Monitor the aloe plant for any new brown spots.

Pest Control:

• The pests are considered uninvited guests and cause sudden trouble for the plant.
• If you find any critters on the plant, then it’s high time for pest control. 
• Make sure to prune all the damaged areas using sterilized scissors that will stop their tracks. 
• You must keep the area around the aloe plant neat and clean because pests are considered clutter lovers. 
• The plant must maintain good airflow that keeps the pests away. 
• The aloe plants that will be healthy, and vibrant with long, tapered leaves should be potted in a small container with dark soil and need to have adequate light.    

Preventing brown spots on Aloe plant leaves in the future:

Adjusting Light Conditions:

• The aloe plant thrives best in moderate-to-bright indirect light, so avoid providing them with too much light that will cause brown spots on the leaves. 
• In case the plant is asking for a sunbeam, try to move them to a spot where the light is bright but diffused. 

Adjust watering conditions:

• Yes, watering is a balancing act, and overwatering them will drown the aloe’s roots and cause brown spots, while underwatering leaves will get parched and equally spotty. 
•  Use moist soil that dries out between waterings.

Disease Management:

• The plant used to suffer from fungal and bacterial infections due to the cold, resulting in brown spots on the leaves. 
• Ensure to keep the aloe’s leaves dry and give good air circulation. 
• If the situation gets worse, treating the plant with fungicide is the best cure. 
• Ensure to read the labels while wearing protective gear when you apply the chemicals.
• It’s better to prevent worse situations than cure them, so maintain all living conditions to avoid any issues.
• Yes, an aloe plant is not just for decoration; it’s a living thing that needs attention and treatment at the right time to make it spot free.

Regular Monitoring and Maintenance:

• Make sure to check the aloe plant regularly for any unwanted guests, like pests or any signs of disease.
• Keep the leaves dry when you water the plant, which helps in avoiding any fungal parties.  
• Maintaining pruning the plant will encourage it to grow healthy.

Is it right to cut the brown tips of aloe?

Yes, it is a good idea to trim the plants to keep them happy and healthy. The perfect time to prune the plant is in the spring. If you are growing the aloe plant to harvest the leaves for medicinal purposes, then there is no need to prune it because you are continually removing the leaves. I will suggest you cut the leaves close to the base of the plant to create a clean regrowth.

Conclusion:

Having brown spots on leaves is stressful, but giving them proper care and attention with specific needs will help the plant restore its vibrancy. If you monitor any issues like overwatering, inadequate drainage, pests, and disease and cure them at the right time, it will help you enjoy lush green aloe leaves.

Ensure it trims all the dead foliage and provides them with nutrients that will help it thrive and maintain its beauty. 

FAQ’s