Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil to see if it has been dry for too long.
- Examine the leaves to see if they look shriveled or thin.
- Look for white salt deposits on the soil or pot.
Likely causes
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves look thin, shriveled, or concave instead of plump and full.
What to do: Give the plant a deep soak until water runs out of the drainage holes. Wait until the soil is bone dry before watering again in 14 to 30 days.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: You see a white crust on the soil surface or the rim of the pot.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away excess salts. Avoid using softened water, which can contain high levels of sodium.
Find out what's wrong with your cape aloe
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Brown tips are rarely a sign of a dying plant, but they do indicate the plant is stressed. If the browning spreads rapidly down the leaf, check the roots for damage.
Stopping it coming back
Water deeply when the soil is dry and use filtered water if your tap water is very hard.
Keep your cape aloe healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Will the brown tips go away?
- No, the brown parts are dead tissue and will not turn green again. You can trim the tips with sterilized scissors if you dislike the look.
- Is my plant getting too much sun?
- Aloe ferox loves full sun, so it is unlikely to be the cause of brown tips. If the brown areas look bleached or crispy, it might be sunscald, but this is rare for this species.
More problems with Cape Aloe
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.