Aloe Leaves Turning Brown
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Joel
Posted on: May 18, 2006

I’ve had Aloe Vera plant for about a month, but recently this disease or fungus appeared and I’ve noticed it on some of the other leaves now. I inserted the picture.

Any ideas on what it could be and how I could treat it? I dipped a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and wiped it down. Some came off onto the cotton ball because it turned redish. Thanks for any help!

We have not seen this symptom in association with a disease previously. I wonder if it is a sign of physical damage to the leaves that may have occurred during transport or during handling. Aloe is a slow growing plant and as such it is slow to respond to physical damage such as bruising or freezing. It is possible the plant was bruised but looked fine when you purchased it only to develop symptoms weeks later. Aloe is commonly transported long distances from nurseries in warm areas and damage can easily occur at some point before arriving in your home.

If it is physical damage then the only options are to remove the unsightly leaf or to let it heal itself, likely leaving an ugly scar.

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