How to Treat an Aloe Vera Plant That Turned Yellow

Aloe Vera plans should be a bright green color.

Aloe vera is a popular medicinal plant the extract of which is often applied to the skin. The plant contains 95 percent water and can be grown both indoors in pots and outdoors in warm climates. The leaves of an aloe vera plant should be a solid bright green color with no signs of yellowing. Yellowing of the leaves indicates that the plant is in distress. Treating the yellowing of the leaves requires that you first diagnose the cause.

Things You'll Need

• Thermometer

Instructions

1. Examine the soil within the plant's container by sticking your finger down the side of the pot, or into the ground if it is planted outdoors. If the soil is wet beyond 2 inches, the plant has been over-watered. To treat the plant, stop watering until the soil dries out and then only water when the soil is dry down to a 1-inch level. Make sure the plant is in a container that has drainage holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out.

2. Examine the plant to see if there are only several yellow leaves near the bottom of the plant. If this is true, then it is likely the plant is not receiving enough water. Although aloe vera plants usually only need to be watered once per week, they may need more water in hot climates. Increase watering to twice per week and the yellowing should diminish.

3. Examine the yellow leaves to see if they occur on only a single side of the plant. This indicates the plant is sunburned and occurs when aloe plants are placed in window sills that receive direct sunlight. To treat this condition, move the plant out of direct sunlight, or install sheer window coverings to filter the sunlight.

References

• Natural Remedies Cure: Tips on Growing Aloe Vera Plant
• Gomesic: How to Grow Aloe Vera