Houseplant lovers enjoy having an aloe vera plant within their homes. Besides aesthetic appeal, this plant has many medicinal properties. Aloe leaves turning purple is a less frequent problem that you may face if you have any aloe vera plant.
You do not need to worry much about this problem. There are some easy solutions to this problem which I always share with my friends and families.
Aloe leaves turning purple is an indication that it is trying to adapt to the stress situation. There are several factors that can be responsible for this color change, including too much sun exposure, temperature fluctuation, overwatering, phosphorus deficiency, and transplant shock.
You can revive the rich green color with some basic care practices.
Some indoor gardeners enjoy the purple color of aloe for the time being. But it can harm your aloe vera if any serious cause like overwatering.
So let’s dive into the details of the cause and find out how to fix them.
Contents
5 Causes For Aloe Leaves Turning purple And How To Fix Them
In this article, I’ll talk about 5 common causes for your aloe leaves turning purple.
And also the way to fix them so that you can enjoy your aloe vera with rich green natural color.
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1. Too Much Sun Exposure Causes Purple Color of Aloe Leaves
You know that the aloe vera plant thrives in natural light. But you should not keep the semi-shaded area. In spring and summer, the hot sun can be fatal for you aloe vera.
In fall and winter, if you leave your aloe for sunbath for a few days, your aloe plant will start to show symptoms. Excessive sun exposure can show sunburn symptoms like leaves turning purple or red.
You may be wondering why does this color change occur? Well, you know that plant leaves look green due to chlorophyll. And in fall aloe goes to a dormant or rest period.
Now at this stage, the aloe vera reduces photosynthesis or food preparation process. Therefore, the chlorophyll breaks down and the dominant green color disappears.
So, other colors like red, purple, or purple-brown color appear because of anthocyanin production.
How to Fix
Leaves turning purple in fall is not a dangerous thing for your aloe vera. You can easily revive the green color.
Just make sure it does not stay in direct sunlight for too long. If you have kept it outside then bring it back to shade. Wait for a few days, water it moderately and your aloe vera will be shining in green again.
2. Temperature Fluctuation Can Cause Aloe Leaves To Turn Purple
You aloe vera changes color due to temperature changes! Cool right? Temperature fluctuation influences the intensity of color change.
When the temperature drops drastically the anthocyanin production increases. So the color changes become visible.
At low temperatures, the chlorophyll starts to break down because the food production decreases to a minimum. So the green color starts to fade away and the purple color becomes dominant.
How to Fix
Aloe vera tends to do well above 10 °C (50°F) and below 30 °C (86°F). So try to keep it between this range of temperature.
In winter when the temperature drops below 10 °C (50°F), bring aloe vera inside the room where the temperature is comfortable.
Important!
Do not keep it near the radiator. The dry air will damage your aloe vera.
3. Overwatering Causes Color Change In Aloe Vera Leaves
Excess watering is the most common and dangerous mistake done by indoor gardeners. Overwatering can be fatal for your aloe vera.
Excess moisture in pot soil causes the leaves to turn yellow or brown. Along with other factors, overwatering is responsible for aloe leaves turning purple.
Stagnant water creates a favorable environment for root rot and other fungal diseases. You will not notice any symptoms before it gets to a point when it becomes difficult to save your plant.
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How to Fix
If the leaves turn purple, then you need to moderate watering. Use only settled and room temperature water.
Tap water contains different kinds of salts that make the nutrient elements of the soil unavailable for the root system.
Always make sure a well drainage system for your aloe vera pot. Use well drainage capacity soil.
Regularly check the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. You have to ensure that these holes are working fine to drain out excess water.
4. Lack of Phosphorus Causing Aloe Leaves Turning Purple
Aloe vera needs nutrient elements for proper functioning. It will let you know by showing external symptoms such as purple leaves. The deficiency of phosphorus causes aloe leaves to turn purple.
Your aloe vera is suffering from phosphorus deficiency doesn’t mean that there is no phosphorus on your potting soil.
Many factors can be responsible for phosphorus deficiency. Soil pH, low temperature, wet soil, aloe vera diseases are common causes of making the phosphorus unavailable for the plant.
How to Fix
First, you need to find out if your aloe vera is healthy or free from any kind of disease. Then review your care practices, wet soil, temperature, optimum soil pH, etc.
So, if you find any kind of irregularities in your care practice then you need work on that first. But you found everything okay and still, your aloe vera leaves turning purple? This time you should consider adding phosphorus to the soil.
There are phosphorus-containing fertilizer mixes available in the market. Also, bone meal, wood ashes, manure, seaweeds can be a great source of organic phosphorus.
Source: Penn State Extension
5. Aloe Vera Plant Can Turn Purple Due to Transplant Shock
Regular transplantation of aloe vera is a common practice to grow your aloe vera healthy and big. So, if you have done this before then you may have noticed that aloe vera goes through an adaptation process.
Your aloe may take time to adjust to new soil and establish its root system there. In this time period, the aloe vera may show leaves color changes.
As the root system can not absorb nutrients and water for a few days the leaves may turn purple. On top of that, leaves may also turn yellow or brown colors.
How to Fix
You don’t have to worry about the transplant shock much. Because it’s completely normal after transplanting, the plant will go through this shock.
Since aloe vera is a tough plant it can take this shock easier than other plants. You just give it a few days to adapt to the changes.
Water the plant regularly and again make sure that excess water drains out from the soil. Take care properly and your aloe will revive the eye-soothing green color within no time.
Here is a helpful video on aloe vera care:
Conclusion
Indoor gardeners like aloe vera for its rich green color. Aloe vera leaves color may change because of many factors related to care practices. Aloe vera turning purple is not a thing to worry about. Just stick to the care above mentioned recommendation, your aloe will be fine.
I am just curious how you deal with your aloe vera leaves turning purple. Let me by dropping a comment below.