Aloe vera is one of the most popular houseplants all over the world. Unique look, beneficial properties make this plant stand out from other houseplants. Like other houseplants, aloe vera may get sick.
Is your aloe vera plant turning dark green? No worries, it is a very common problem that you have to face having an aloe plant at home. I will explain the causes and of course, how to fix them.
Overwatering is the number one reason for aloe vera plants turning dark green and squishy. In addition, temperature fluctuation, lack of phosphorus, lack of potassium, excess nitrogen are the most potential causes. Identify the cause and take action to fix them, your aloe will be fine.
Wait, you may be wondering if the aloe vera plant turning dark green is that even a real problem? Keep reading you will get your answer.
Contents
Aloe Vera Plant Turning Dark Green And How To Fix It
You have to identify the problem first, then jump into the solutions. Let’s know about the potential problem so that you can identify your own and apply the solution.
Aloe Vera Plant Turning Dark Green Due to Overwatering
You know that desert plants can survive with minimum water and they can not stand overwatering. Well, you can grow aloe in any climate but it still remains a desert plant.
So, what does an overwatered aloe plant look like? if you water aloe too much it will show symptoms like dark green mushy leaves. For obvious reasons, this is not good for your aloe plant.
Now, what happens when you overwater your aloe vera? In this case, aloe absorbs water more than necessary and tries to store it in the leaves. In other words, it soaks up more water than it can handle.
Here is the danger of this! The aloe vera cells burst from the water stress. As a result, you can see the dark green discoloration and squishy appearance of your aloe plant.
How to fix
If you are at the initial stage then it is possible to revive your aloe vera. You just need to stick to the watering rules.
Now, let your aloe container dry out for several weeks (at least 2-3 weeks). Then water it at a regular frequency of once every two weeks.
Make sure that the soil does a good job of draining the water from the pot. The draining hole at the bottom of the pot is very important. Make sure the holes are working.
You are watering properly but water is remaining stagnant in the pot, this will not bring you any result.
I have written a step-by-step article on How to Save Overwatered Aloe Plants. This will help you a lot to solve the problem.
Another thing you should keep in mind that overwatering encourages fungal diseases like root rot. So, check if the root system is okay. Otherwise, you have to transplant it to a new pot.
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Temperature Fluctuation Turning Aloe Dark green
In summer, aloe vera feels good at room temperature. And in winter, when the plant is at rest, you should keep it in a cool place at a temperature of about 15°C/59°F.
If you can not ensure the preferred temperature then your aloe will tell you showing symptoms. For example, if you are from a cold area, the water in the pot can freeze overnight.
The juice inside the aloe leaves can not tolerate the freezing cold temperature. Consequently, the tissues of the plant will get damaged and discoloration symptoms like dark green will appear.
How to fix
Make sure your aloe does not get hurt by the extreme temperature fluctuation day and night. Keep your aloe warm at night if there is freezing cold outside. Maintain normal room temperature and your aloe will do fine.
Important!
Do not keep your aloe outside after watering it in the winter. The water will freeze and hurt your aloe plant.
Excess Nitrogen Can Cause Aloe Dark Green Color
With an excess of nitrogen, aloe vera becomes dark green, large, and squishy. The color of the leaves becomes a saturated dark green, and the lower leaves begin to darken first.
In succulent plants including aloe vera, an excess of nitrogen causes a thinning of the skin, which bursts, causing the plant to die or leaving ugly scars.
The application of fertilizer accumulates excess fertilizer in the potting soil. Here’s how you can fix it.
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How to fix
If you have had an overdose of fertilizer then you have to balance it somehow. Luckily there is an easy way to do it.
Mulching the potting soil will help you minimize the excess nitrogen in the soil.
Now, how do you mulch and what should you use to mulch the soil? To balance the nitrogen you need to mulch the potting soil with sawdust or wood chips.
The science is; when the sawdust or wood chip starts to decompose it will use nitrogen from the soil and consequently the soil nitrogen will come down to a tolerable limit.
Note!
Nitrogen also depletes from the soil with irrigation water naturally.
Aloe Vera Plant Turning Dark Green Because of Excess Potassium
Potassium is one of the essential primary elements for aloe vera or any other plant.
But, with an excess of potassium, your aloe vera growth rate will slow down.
In addition, the leaves, in this case, acquire a dark green shade, and new leaves become smaller. Excess potassium leads to difficult absorption of elements such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, etc.
How to fix
Use organic fertilizer for your potting mix. This fertilizer will prevent the accumulation of any particular elements like potassium.
Also, loosen the soil and then water it abundantly, Make sure the water drains out from the pot. In this way, excess fertilizer will wash away from the soil.
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Lack of Phosphorus Causes Dark Greening of Aloe Vera
This occurs rarely but it can cause dark green leaves of aloe vera. In addition, the growth slows down, the death of the leaves increases, brown or red-brown spots appear turning into holes.
Lack of phosphorus occurs most often on light acidic soils with low organic content.
How to Fix
Using organic fertilizer is the best option for fighting against a lack of any nutrient symptoms.
Bone meal, manure is a great source of phosphorus for plant soil. You can also use NPK fertilizers available in the market.
Conclusion
Aloe vera remains happy when you fulfill its requirements. This plant is very sensitive to care mistakes but if you are applying the right rules then it will revive very fast.