Aloe vera is one of the most common and popular house plants.
People love to keep at least one of these inside their homes or in their gardens as they are easy to care for, need little maintenance, and come with multiple beauty and health benefits.
However, it can still run into issues and display signs of stress.
One of the signs of an aloe vera plant under stress is that it changes color. If you have noticed your aloe turning orange recently, you may wonder, why is my aloe plant orange?
The color change could be due to several reasons.
Keep reading as we analyze why your aloe plant could be turning orange.
Let’s begin!
Why Is My Aloe Plant Orange?
Aloe vera is naturally in a shade of grayish-green or bluish green, but due to environmental stressors and not getting the right conditions, it can change colors and sometimes turn orange.
If you have noticed this change in your aloe plant, you may wonder, why is my aloe plant orange?
There could be several reasons for the orange hue of the aloe vera plant.
The primary reasons include the following:
- Overexposure to sunlight
- Not giving the plant enough water or overwatering
- Transplantation shock
You must take corrective action to ensure the aloe plant keeps blossoming in its original color.
Keep reading to get answers to your question, why is my aloe plant orange?
Let’s find out!
1. Overexposure to Sunlight
Aloe plants are known as sun-loving plants, and it wouldn’t usually cross your mind that too much sunlight could be causing the color change for your aloe plant.
However, this is a fact that if exposed to more sunlight than necessary, aloe vera can start to turn orange due to sunburn.
Aloe vera needs about five to six hours of bright sunlight.
But if this sunlight is too direct and bright, it can damage the aloe vera.
- So, you have to find a balanced place for your succulent plant.
- The plant’s location should receive sufficient sunlight for a few hours in the day but also be slightly shaded so as not to get too much sunlight directly.
- When you notice the color change of aloe vera, you can try shifting places to a shadier area and check for a few days.
If the color returns to normal, you know what was causing the problem.
2. Underwatering
Dehydration of the aloe plant is another cause for it to turn orange.
The discoloration results are especially prominent and followed by other symptoms when underwatering is combined with too much sunlight.
Underwatering can be easily spotted on the plant as you will see the leaves crumpling and becoming shriveled. The aloe leaves will lose color at the top, and the edges will turn brown. They will become crisp and dehydrated. With drying leaves, you will see them falling and drooping.
The good thing about aloe vera is that it can survive with very little water and even in drought conditions.
So, you will have to be negligent for multiple weeks for the plant to become dehydrated and show the effects of underwatering.
If you have been negligent in giving enough water to the plant and see signs of it drying out, adding more water to the aloe plant will bring it back.
Make a regular schedule of watering the plant once a week.
Related article: Why Is My Aloe Turning Red? | 6 Secret Reasons!
3. Overwatering
Adding too much water is dangerous for the aloe plant.
Aloe vera is native to tropical environments and grows well in arid areas. So, it does not need too much water.
Adding more water than necessary can lead to issues like root rot and damaged leaves.
Overwatering can also cause the color of the aloe plant to turn orange—excess water will also cause the plant leaves to swell up and become too soft. The leaves will start turning yellow from the base and soon turn a hue of orange.
Excess water causes the soil to become waterlogged, which blocks oxygen circulation.
As the roots don’t receive enough oxygen, they start to rot and die. If you suspect a case of overwatering, you can check it by taking out the top few inches of the soil and seeing if there is water standing in the soil.
Make sure there is enough drainage to let the water out.
You can put the plant in bright sunlight to dry the excess water. You may even have to repot the plant in new soil if the water has damaged the previous one too much.
Let the soil dry before watering again, and don’t water more than once a week.
4. Transplant Shock
The transplantation shock can also lead to the aloe plant’s color change.
If you have been growing it inside the house and suddenly plant it outside, the plant may come under stress from the change in environment and vice versa.
If you see the plant turning orange right after putting it in a different location, it could be due to transplantation.
Instead of suddenly planting the aloe vera in a new location, gradually introducing the plant to the new environment.
You can try placing your aloe in the new place for a few hours in the day so that it can adapt.
That’s all!
Here’s a nice YouTube video to help you care for your aloe:
Conclusion!
Why is my aloe plant orange, you asked? I hope now you know why.
Aloe vera changes color and turns orange when it is subjected to many stressors, such as overwatering, underwatering, overexposure to sunlight, and transplantation shock.
Aloe vera is a trendy plant; you can use it for several natural remedies.
Make sure to understand the natural habitat of aloe vera to learn about the conditions necessary for the plant to grow and thrive. Given that it is low maintenance, it will be able to thrive mainly on its own, but it still needs your attention.
I hope this article helps you in treating your beautiful aloe.
Let us know how it turns out!
Regards!