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Why Are My Aloe Leaves So Thin – 7 Reasons To Worry!

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Why are my aloe leaves so thin? Aloe vera leaves usually turn thin if they’re too much in the shade or are experiencing stress due to overwatering. If your aloe plant isn’t in direct sunlight, the leaves tend to weaken, grow thin, and start extending toward the direction of the most light source.

Another possible reason your aloe plant has thin leaves could be the plant is growing in a slow draining soil and pot that is retaining too much moisture around the root of the drought-tolerant plant; this usually causes the leaves to grow thin and turn yellow, limp, translucent, or limp as a sign of stress.

Keep reading for a detailed guide to why your aloe leaves are so thin.

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Aloe vera leaves are thin and droopy – via Reddit

Why Are My Aloe Leaves So Thin

OverWatering

Aloe Veras are drought-resistant plants that grow in tropical and subtropical climates with little rainfall. As such, it makes total sense that the aloe vera plant is extremely susceptible to overwatering if cared for by a plant parent who treats it as other regular houseplants.

As a general rule of thumb, if you water your aloe vera plant more than once a week, you’re overwatering it.

Along with thin leaves, additional signs and symptoms that you’re overwatering your aloe plant include it’s leaves turning limp, soft, yellow, or brown. If you notice any of the signs above, in addition to the thinning, it’s an indication that your aloe plant is dying, and you’ll need to spring into action right away.

The solution?

To get your aloe vera plant’s leaves back to their best health, you’ll need to recreate the same growing conditions found in its native environment by reducing the frequency of your watering escapades.

Moving forward, only water your plant after the soil in the pot has completely dried out, which typically takes approx 14 days. Note, though, that the period can vary depending on the size of the pot, the conditions in your home, and the climate where you live.

If you’d like help establishing when the soil in the pot is dry, simply feel the soil at the bottom of the pot through the drainage holes. If you notice that the soil is damp, delay your watering session for several more days.

As you will notice after employing the tricks I’ve shared above, your watering frequency will replicate the natural conditions of a downpour followed by a period of drought. That’s the typical native climate where aloe vera plants are used to grow.

Avoid Over Feeding

Go easy with your fertilization efforts. Like all other cacti and succulents, aloe vera plants grow best in soils with poor nutrients. As noted in the previous section, the goal is to replicate the conditions found in their native habitats, and poor soil nutrients are one of these conditions.

With that in mind, simply fertilize the soil your aloe vera plant is growing on four times a year (utmost), and that should be sufficient to help them thrive.

Right Temperature

The Aloe Vera plant performs best when kept in temperatures ranging between 55 degrees F and 90 degrees F. Thus, try your best and ensure your plant is never exposed to cold temperatures. If the zone you live in is a cold one, consider bringing the plant indoors before the frost hits.

Once inside, still, try your best to create the ideal temperature ranges the plant requires to thrive.

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My aloe vera has very thin leaves what should I do? – via Reddit

Re-Potting

One of the main mistakes I see most aloe plant parents make is thinking that they can re-pot the plant at any random time they wish in the year. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The best, and only time, you should re-pot your aloe vera plant is when you witness it has started growing pups.

At that time, shift the pups to a different location, which should be sufficient to allow the mother plant to become plump and full again.

Monitor For Pests and Diseases

Aloe Vera plants can sometimes get infested with pests like Aloe Mite, which tend to hamper the plant’s growth and result in pale, skinny leaves. With that in mind, repeatedly inspect the plant for pests and diseases, and if you notice any, get rid of them using insecticidal soap.

Also, remember to keep an eye on the leaf rot, stem, and root. The simplest way to keep all such issues at bay is never to overwater your plant.

Are You Using The Right Growth Medium

Brittle, skinny, non-plump aloe vera leaves may indicate that your plant is not getting sufficient water. If you’ve been watering the plant to the right level (as we elaborated earlier), then chances are you’ve planted your aloe vera in compact soil that is preventing the root from absorbing sufficient moisture.

This is why you’ll always hear experts emphasizing the importance of only planting your houseplants in a well-draining soil mix. This advice applies to aloes and all other succulents as well.

Not Sufficient Direct Sunlight

Another point worth noting about the native habitats of aloe vera plants is that they grow in sunny and hot desert conditions. They have specifically adapted to growing in open regions with full sunlight.

With that in mind, when growing an aloe vera plant in your home, place it in an area that receives at least 5 hours of direct sunlight. Most experts recommend placing the plants on south-facing windows or outdoors.

If you’ve placed your aloe plant in too much shade so far, that could explain why its leaves have grown weaker and started appearing thin.


Final Thoughts

The aloe vera plant can be an amazing addition to anyone’s plants collection. It’s quite easy to grow and has tremendous benefits. With that in mind, if your aloe plant has hit a snag and its leaves have started growing thin, employ the tips and tricks we’ve shared in the guide above to get it back on track.