Aloe Plants with Drooping and Thinning Leaves – What to Do

Are the once sturdy leaves of your aloe plant starting to droop and flop? A thinning aloe plant can be caused by a number of environmental changes. It’s important to identify and resolve the problem as soon as possible before it becomes too late to save your houseplant.

Check the Soil Moisture

Both over-watering and under-watering may cause the leaves of your aloe plant to start drooping and thinning. Stick your finger into the soil and check its moisture level. It most definitely shouldn’t feel like a flood but it also shouldn’t feel like the desert either.

Like many other succulents, aloe plants grow best in well-draining soil (find a succulent and cacti mix that contains drainage material like perlite). In general conditions, you only need to water the soil once it starts to feel dry.

Over-watering will cause the aloe plant leaves to droop and thin as a result of diseases like root rot. Under-watering would also cause the leaves to wilt due to the lack of fluid. Did you know that plants are about 90% water? It may take some experimentation to find the correct watering frequency. Do note that frequency may change by season. Plant watering, in general, is less frequent in winter.

Inadequate Amount of Sunlight

Drooping and thin aloe leaves can also be caused by a lack of sunlight. Many varieties of aloe plants do best in direct sun conditions (at least six to eight hours), although some can tolerate partial sun conditions as well. Did you recently move the placement of the aloe plant?

For example, did you move it a few feet away from the window, when its original position was right next to the windowsill? Make sure your aloe plant is getting enough natural sunlight or set up an artificial light system like a grow light to keep the aloe plant happy.

Presence of Pests

Droopy and thin aloe plant leaves can also be a result of pests like aphids and mealybugs. These small insects will feed on the sap of the plant, which would eventually cause the leaves to wilt. It’s important to get rid of these pests as soon as possible before they colonize your whole plant.

We recommend using natural remedies to get rid of pests like fungus gnats on aloe plants, especially if you plan to harvest the aloe juice at a later date. Popular remedies include food grade diatomaceous earth, vinegar, and dish soap solution.