Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Press the base of the plant to see if it feels soft or squishy.
- Stick your finger two inches into the soil to check for dampness.
- Inspect the drainage hole to ensure it is not blocked.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves feel soft or mushy and the base of the plant looks dark or translucent.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and let the soil dry out completely. If the plant is sitting in a saucer of water, empty it right away.
Poor Drainage
PossibleHow to tell: The soil remains damp for more than a few days after watering.
What to do: Repot the plant into a container with drainage holes using a cactus or succulent mix. Add perlite or pumice to the soil to improve airflow around the roots.
Find out what's wrong with your aloe vera
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the base is black and the leaves are falling off, the rot may have reached the core, which is often fatal. Minor softness can sometimes be reversed by drying the plant out.
Stopping it coming back
Only water your Aloe vera every 14 to 21 days, and only when the soil is bone dry all the way through.
Aloe vera: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your aloe vera and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I save a plant with root rot?
- Yes, if you catch it early. Remove the plant from the pot, trim away any black or slimy roots, and repot it in fresh, dry succulent soil.
- How do I know if I am watering too much?
- If the leaves lose their firmness and start to feel squishy or look yellow, you are likely watering too often.
More problems with Aloe vera
- What are these white fuzzy spots on my Aloe vera?
- Why are my aloe vera leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my aloe vera drooping?
- Why is my aloe vera growing tall and leggy?
- Why are the tips of my Aloe vera leaves turning brown?
- Why does my Aloe vera have spots on its leaves?
- Why are my Aloe vera leaves curling?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.