4 Signs Of Overwatered Aloe Plant and Steps to Solve it

Symptoms Of Overwatered Aloe Plant – According to an ancient proverb, the aloe plant, particularly aloe vera, is said to be hard to kill. Overwatering, on the other hand, may and will kill aloe plants over time, despite the fact that they can withstand a tremendous amount of damage.

Unless you’re watering on a schedule or pouring the water directly into the plant, it’s quite simple to an overwatered aloe plant.

In fact, you might be surprised to learn that nearly 97 percent of the water a plant consumes is not even intended for human consumption.

To be more specific: Instead, it is used in a process called transpiration, which is like sweating in that it takes water away from the body. The goal of transpiration, on the other hand, is to make the air around a plant a little more humid.

As a result, how much water a plant needs at any given time is determined by a wide range of factors that are hard to predict in advance. As a result, your plant is frequently overwatered or underwatered.

Overwatered Aloe Plant Symptoms and Solutions

Plants have a kind of language that they use to communicate with you when they are pleased or when they are sick.

This helps you recognize when you’ve overwatered aloe plant, at which time it’s usually rather simple to correct the situation before irreversible harm is done to the plant.

Overwatering may manifest itself in a variety of ways in plants, but not all of them are the same. When it comes to aloe plants, keep an eye out for the following:

Leaves and stems that are soft or mushy

The leaves and stem of an aloe plant should be full and sturdy. These are succulents, though, and as a result, they retain a lot of water in their leaves.

Too much water may cause the leaves to become mushy, similar to how your skin feels after swimming in a pool for an extended period of time.

Edema is a swelling of the body (blistering)

This happens when the plant takes in too much water too quickly and can’t store it.
The water will cause the leaf cells to enlarge until they break, resulting in colorful blisters on the leaves.

Discoloration and droopiness of the leaves

Your plant’s leaves will droop and lose their brilliant color as a result of this condition. Occasionally, this is followed by the tips or edges becoming brown or yellow. More information on why aloe plants become brown may be found here.

As the brown tips become necrotic, they may darken and eventually become black. These symptoms may often be caused by underwatering or other environmental variables, so you’ll need to look for more signals to be certain that you’ve found the source of the problem.

Soil that is wet or moldy

You’re overwatering your plants if this is one of the most noticeable indicators. The soil should never feel moist or soggy, and puddles should be dealt with as soon as they appear.

You might also notice a bad smell or a change in the color of the soil, which is a strong sign that there is fungus or mold in the soil.

Fungus gnats may start to infest your aloe because of the fungal growth. In the worst-case scenario, your aloe may die because of the fungus gnats, which can cause root rot.

Repairing the Damage Caused by Overwatering

However, the good news is that you may preserve an overwatered aloe plant with just a little bit of work.

In some cases, you may be able to tilt the container over and drain off any extra water that has built up. Overwatering on a regular basis will require a bit more effort.

#1. Take the Plant Out of the Ground

Get the plant out of the pool as soon as possible, since this is the first step. Take the following steps:

• Gently tip the container to the side and slide it out.
• If your aloe is in a garden, dig a large circle around the plant and tip it out that way to avoid damaging the plant.
• Remove any extra soil, taking care not to injure the roots in the process.

#2. Investigate the Roots

Ensure that the roots are thoroughly examined. Infected roots will be dark brown to black in color, but healthy roots will be white or light brown in color. Follow these instructions if you have diseased roots:

• Sharp, sterilized shears should be used to cut away any diseased roots.
• Dip your scissors in alcohol between each cut to make sure you don’t cut any healthy roots, then cut again.

#3. Sterilize the Roots

You have three options for completing this task.

• The majority of gardeners like to soak the roots in fungicide and allow them to dry in a soft towel for a day or two before planting.
• Most of the time, though, it’s better to soak the roots in a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water for 30 minutes because bacteria can also cause root rot in some cases.
• Allow them to air dry for 2 to 3 days after soaking them in bleach. To go to step 5, scroll forward to the section on gardening plants.

#4. Preparation of the Shipping Container

Unless you have extensive expertise in sterilizing soil, you should always dump the old dirt.

Similar to this, you may soak an old pot in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water for at least 20 minutes (30 minutes or more is preferable), then allow it to air dry fully before using it again.

It is important to make certain that the container you are using is equipped with enough drainage holes. You may coat the bottom of the container with 12 to 1 inch of gravel or aquarium stones to aid in draining even more effectively.

Fill the container with potting soil that has not been used before. Avoid buying cheap potting soil unless the company has a good reputation in the field (like Miracle-Gro).

That is generally because the manufacturer takes shortcuts by not sterilizing the soil before packing it, which results in lower costs.

#5. Replanting Steps

Finally, replant your aloe in its original location, either in a container or directly into the ground. While you are planting new aloe plants, replace the aloe soil that was previously grown in your garden.

Before you plant, lightly wet the soil. Do this again after you plant to help the soil become more stable.

How to Avoid Overwatering Your Plants (Soak-and-Dry Method)

Prevention is always preferable to cure, and employing the soak-and-dry approach is the most convenient way to guarantee that your plant receives the exact quantity of water it needs on a consistent basis.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind:

• In order to determine how moist the soil is, stick your finger into it.
• You should water your aloe when the soil feels dry, approximately 1 inch deep in the root zone.
• Pour carefully and evenly around the base of the plant, working your way around the whole plant as you go.
• If possible, avoid getting the plant itself wet, since this might result in fungal infection.
• If you see moisture starting to leak from the drainage holes or if the surface is no longer absorbing water at the same rate as you’re pouring it, it’s time to call a halt.