Aloe vera leaves bending is a very common problem you may face if you are growing it indoors.
Aloe vera plant leaves bending due to lack of light. Insufficient light also causes the aloe vera plants to become leggy and bend towards the light source. In addition to improper watering, fungal diseases, incorrect container sizes can also be responsible for this common problem.
But this a very easy to fix the problem. Before that, you need to identify the reason. This will make your task a lot easier.
In this article you will know about the causes and solutions of aloe vera plant leaves bending.
Let’s dive right in.
Contents
Causes of Aloe Vera Plant leaves Bending
Aloe vera plant is a type of succulent plant. Succulents are very sensitive to their growing requirements.
If you fail to fulfill their requirements they will let you by showing different visible symptoms. Such as the leaves may be turning yellow, brown, or bending.
Let’s find out the causes of this problem and how you can fix them.
Inadequate light
You already know that Aloe vera loves the sun and warmth. You have to ensure a bright location for the plant to thrive. It doesn’t matter whether it is natural or artificial light.
Lack of light might cause your aloe leaves to bend. Insufficient light can also cause aloe vera to turn pale or white. Nevertheless, Aloe vera plant leaves will turn red when exposed to strong, constant sunlight.
Due to insufficient light physiological activities are reduced and it causes weak or thin leaves. Eventually, the weak leaves may crease or bend. Another indication of insufficient light is aloe vera getting leggy.
Solution: It is best to choose a warm, bright, and dry place for your aloe vera plant. For example in a pot on the windowsill, balcony, or terrace. However, it also thrives in partial shade.
If your home doesn’t have enough natural light coming in then you can use an artificial light source to thrive your bending aloe vera. It will get back to a normal condition within no time.
Caution: Never place your plant pot in the bathroom. Aloe vera does not tolerate this humid and warm climate.
Watering Malpractices
It is important to ensure a functioning drainage system to drain out the stagnant water out of the container. Otherwise, your aloe vera will get fungal diseases like root rot.
Before you can identify the root rot disease, it does irreparable damage. It is very difficult to save an overwatered aloe vera with root rot.
You can revive underwatered aloe very within few days but overwatering can be fatal for it. No worries, here’s the solution to avoid watering malpractice.
Solution: You need to determine the watering frequency according to the season. Summer is the growth period of your aloe vera. So you need to water it more frequently than in winter.
Watering once every two weeks is enough for your aloe vera to thrive. Again you need to ensure drainage of the excess water from the container.
Aloe vera is a desert plant and capable of storing water for future use. So you need not worry about underwatering much, it can survive for some time without water.
Fungal Disease
This might turn out to be a very serious problem for your aloe vera plant. The aloe leaves can bend due to dry rot disease. Fungal infection causes dry rot of aloe vera.
Dry rot makes your aloe vera dry from the inside. The external symptoms (yellowing, leaves bending, and drying out) appear in the late stages of the disease.
Solution: Dry rot is incurable and you have to destroy the infected plant. Only constant preventive measures can save your aloe plant from dry rot. Proper care, regular watering, and adequate light will keep the disease away.
Caution: The fungus remains on the walls of the container for a long time. Therefore, you have to get a new container for a transplant
For the treatment of fungal diseases. Here are the fungicides I recommend:
| Name of The Fungicide | Amount | Amount of Water |
| Bonide 811 Copper 4E Fungicide | 1-4 tablespoons (.05-2.0 fl oz) | 1 gallon of water |
| Garden Safe Brand Fungicide3 | 2 tablespoons (1 fl oz) | 1 gallon of water |
| Southern Ag – Liquid Copper Fungicide | 3-4 tablespoons | 1 gallon of water |
Low Temperature
You already know that aloe plants love warmth and light. If your aloe vera plant is exposed to below 10°C/50°F, you may have bending leaves.
It is very likely that cool air comes from the window or too cold water is used for watering.
Solution: Aloe plants do not have problems with high temperatures. But the ideal range is around 18-25 °C/ 64.4°F-77°F. Nevertheless, if the thermometer rises above 30 °C/ 86°F you need to adapt the watering frequency.
However, you must begin to fear only when the temperature approaches 7 °C/ 44.6 °F. This is a critical threshold for aloe vera plants indoors.
Bacterial Soft Rot
As the name says this disease is caused by bacteria. It causes your young aloe vera plant leaves to bend. This disease spreads quickly all over the plant.
You can recognize this disease very easily. The infected leaves will have a darker color and they will swell with the formation of gas inside.
Solution: You do not have to worry too much about this disease. Because, if you are careful about the management practices then you are good. The causal bacteria can survive in plant debris and emerges in hot and humid weather.
Overwatering your aloe vera triggers bacterial rot to occur. So keep track of your watering frequency. You should water your aloe plant in winter when the substrate is completely dry.
Very Shallow Container
Container size is very important for your aloe vera plant to grow. Small size container causes root bound of aloe vera.
When the aloe is a young plant then it is okay to let it grow in a small or shallow container. The Aloe plant has a fibrous root that needs more space to grow with plant size.
Solution: So how do you determine the optimum size of the container? Here’s how:
The pot should be such that there is 1-2 cm of space left between the roots, the walls, the bottom. You need to repot your aloe vera when it gets bigger and you will get the message when you see bending leaves.
Can You Fix Bending Leaves of Aloe Vera?
The only way out is to prevent aloe vera plants from bending. Unfortunately, once it is bent you can not fix it. It is better to cut them off and use them.
So, you realize that proper care will save your aloe leaves from bending and also from other problems. Below are some basic care rules for aloe vera plants indoors. These care tips will help you save your aloe leaves from bending.
- Lighting. Aloe loves bright sunshine and lighting. Grows well on windows facing south or southeast. To form a uniform arrangement of leaves, you have to ensure uniform lighting conditions. Also, make sure that direct sunlight does not fall on it and does not burn.
- Temperature. As far as temperature is concerned, aloe can easily cope with changes. Easily withstands its rise above +26°C/78.8°F. It can not tolerate frost. Sometimes in winter, the temperature falls drastically. But make sure that the room temperature does not fall below +10 °C/50°F.
- Watering. As the soil dries up. In summer in 2-3 days and in winter in 2 weeks. Use warm and normal water. Try to avoid getting water in the center of the leaf outlet. Do not overwater the plant as this will cause roots to rot. The roots that absorb moisture are at the bottom of the pot. This is why you often use bottom watering. Periodically wipe the leaves with a damp cloth, cleaning them from dust.
- Soil. You can prepare the soil from turf, leafy soil, humus, and sand. The turf takes two parts, the rest of the components, one at a time. You can use a ready-made soil mixture for aloe as well. For loosening, add some charcoal, brick chips to the soil.
- Fertilizing. Fertilizer is rarely applied to aloe vera containers. If you want not more than once a month. Water the soil before fertilizing. After transplanting, do not apply fertilizer for six months.
- Transplantation. First, you have to transplant aloe plants annually. Each time using a larger pot. You can perform transplantation once every three years or simply replace the topsoil.
Final Words
A properly selected pot, a suitable substrate, and minimal watering are the key to the health of the aloe vera plant. The basic care tips and preventive measures will keep the problem away.