9 Reasons Your Aloe Vera is Drooping and Falling Over

So, you’ve decided to add Aloe vera to your indoor plant collection. However, after a while, you start to notice a common problem. The aloe leaves are drooping and limp, almost lifeless. When you are in between waterings, the aloe plant falls over, creating a mess of broken leaves and soil scattered on the floor. What is happening to your beloved aloe?

Take a breath and realize that you are not the first, nor the last, person to have issues with growing an Aloe vera plant indoors, despite its minimal maintenance reputation. I mean, you probably don’t live in a desert, correct? The answer is most likely no, you don’t live in a desert, especially inside your home. So, your plant will have to meet you in the middle when it comes to adapting to your living conditions.

Below we will look at the top 9 reasons for Aloe plant drooping or falling over, and the best techniques to getting your aloe back in top shape. Ready to learn more? Let’s dig in!

Needs a New Container

Aloe vera is a slow-growing plant. It may take upwards of 3 to 4 years for aloe to reach a mature plant size. Over the course of growing, your aloe may have outgrown its container. Depending on the materials the pot is made from, the weight of the top portion of the plant can exceed the weight of the pot and soil, causing aloe vera drooping or your aloe plant falling over.

Pick the correct size, shape, and material composition when repotting. The number one thing is drainage holes for sure, but then consider what materials the pot is made from.

Terracotta or clay pots are heavy compared to plastic pots, providing a sturdier base to counterbalance the weight of the plant. Tall, deep pots are well suited for top-heavy aloe plants. The depth allows for the plant roots to spread out and downward, creating a stronger base for supporting the heavier plant.

After transplanting your aloe into its new pot, you may consider staking or tying the leaves together to support the top portion while the new roots establish in the fresh potting mix. Once the roots have taken hold, you can remove the exterior support system.

Weighted Down from Pups

Who doesn’t love babies, especially when they’re plant babies? At maturity, it is common for Aloe vera to bear pups, or little plants, as small side shoots from the base of the large plant.

Despite their miniature size, the weight of these new pups can cause aloe plants to droop. This is a common cause of aloe vera drooping or an aloe plant falling over. I currently have a small aloe in a 2″ plastic pot that has sported a pup recently, and I cannot get the small pot to stay upright to save my life.

Even when watering, I prop the plant up against a heavier object so that the bottom of the pot can stay in the water long enough to be absorbed.

What I should do is 1) remove the pup and pot it up separately from the mother plant and 2) repot the mother plant in a heavier pot to keep both from falling over all the time.

To remove the pup, try to cut it at the base of its stem, where it is attached to the mother plant. Sometimes, the pup will break off the mother plant on its own, and that is fine. Let the pup’s stem end dry out for a few days to a week to allow a callus to form.

Once the callus is formed, you can stick the pup, stem side down, in a small pot containing a cactus-type soil mix and water it in well. In 2 to 3 weeks, new roots will form on your pup, and now you’ve got another aloe plant. Both the pup and the mother plant will be better balanced, helping you avoid aloe vera drooping.

It’s Gotten Too Hot

If this succulent could talk, it would likely insist on living in air temperatures around 80°F (27°C). Honestly, who can blame it? In desert conditions, temperatures often exceed that mark, but aloe vera thrives in filtered sunlight, typically as an understory plant beneath taller cacti and succulents. This natural shade helps the plant stay at a more comfortable temperature.

So, how could a non-desert aloe get too hot at home? If your plant is sitting in direct sunlight, either indoors or outdoors, the air temperature can easily rise above 80°F (27°C), causing the leaves to scorch. Direct sun exposure can also increase the rate of water loss through the leaves. When the plant loses water faster than it can absorb it, the leaves may wilt, and excessive water loss can cause the entire aloe to droop.

To prevent aloe vera drooping, keep your plant under indirect lighting conditions and out of full sun. This helps maintain an optimal growth temperature and prevents overheating or excessive water loss.

It’s Just Too Cold

If temperatures dip below 50°F (10°C), aloe plants may start showing signs of cold damage. Once the temperature drops below 40°F (4°C), the plant is at serious risk of dying.

To protect your aloe, especially if it’s already drooping, place it in a location free of draughts from windows and doors, particularly during winter months. Avoid positioning it too close to a window where, during cold nights, the plant tissue nearest the glass can be exposed to the chill of the windowpane. This exposure can lead to cold damage.

In the deep cold of January here in Ohio, I move all my plants off the windowsill and onto the sink or kitchen table overnight. Once the freezing temperatures pass, I return them to their usual spots.

Cold damage in aloe is easy to spot. Leaves may turn translucent and fall over—much like the texture of frozen lettuce that becomes semi-see-through after thawing. Drooping aloe vera often looks similar. Leaves may also blacken, and any tissue exposed to extreme cold will collapse and eventually fall off.

Too Much Moisture

Watering your aloe every week might seem like a foolproof way to keep it healthy, but it’s not always the best approach. While your intentions are good, overwatering is a common mistake with these hardy desert natives that prefer drier conditions. Regular weekly watering may not align with what your aloe actually needs.

Several factors determine whether your aloe vera needs water. Temperature, humidity, draughts, light levels, pot size, soil type, and the plant’s size all play a role in creating a unique watering schedule. Instead of sticking to a rigid routine, it’s better to check weekly and water only if necessary. Stick your finger into the soil to check for moisture. If it feels damp, hold off. When in doubt, it’s always safer to skip watering than to risk overwatering.

When an aloe is watered unnecessarily, its roots can begin to rot. This compromises the plant’s stability, as the roots no longer anchor it in the soil. Without healthy roots, the aloe may droop or even fall over.

Overwatering also causes telltale symptoms in the leaves. They may appear soft, mushy, or overly plump. Healthy green leaves can turn brown or yellow when the plant is consistently exposed to excess water. By watering only when needed, you can prevent issues like aloe vera drooping or unhealthy foliage.

It’s Too Dry

If your aloe is too dry, congratulations—you’ve successfully avoided overwatering! However, underwatering can also take a toll on your drooping aloe, although it’s much easier to recover from than overwatering.

When an aloe is too dry, the leaves may appear dull, leathery, and flat. This happens because the plant’s tissues lack water, leaving the cells deflated. Think of a well-watered aloe as a full water balloon—firm and plump. Now imagine that balloon deflated, limp, and floppy. That’s what an underwatered aloe looks like.

To rehydrate your drooping aloe, water it thoroughly. For top watering, pour water onto the soil surface until it drains out of the holes at the bottom of the pot. For bottom watering, place the pot in a container of water, allowing the water to rise through the drainage holes and saturate the soil. When the soil surface feels damp, you’ve thoroughly watered the plant.

Give your aloe a day or two to recover. The leaves should begin to fill with water and regain their firmness. If the plant was severely dry, you might need to water a second time to restore its health fully.

If your aloe is still drooping after thorough watering, check the roots. Dry, shriveled, or crunchy roots may indicate they’ve died. In this case, you can try salvaging the plant by taking a cutting from a healthy part of the top and propagating it in a new pot. If the plant isn’t salvageable, it might be time for a trip to the garden center to start fresh with a new aloe.

You Have Pests

Aloe vera is generally a hardy, pest-resistant plant. However, sap-sucking insects like scale, aphids, and mealybugs can occasionally infest your aloe, causing significant damage. These pests feed by either sucking directly or piercing the plant’s surface first and then drawing out the nutrient-rich sap.

This feeding damages the plant’s cells, leaving them unable to retain the vital nutrients and water that aloe needs to thrive. If the infestation is severe, the aloe may droop or even fall over.

In cases of extensive damage, affected leaves cannot be salvaged. Carefully prune off these leaves and treat the remaining plant with a pesticide suited to your specific pest problem. Insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and neem oil are effective options for controlling soft-bodied pests like scale, aphids, and mealybugs. These treatments are low in toxicity for humans and pets, making them safe choices for home use.

Always check the pesticide label to ensure it is safe for use on cacti and succulents and follow the recommended application frequency for best results.

Another effective method for treating pest infestations is rubbing alcohol. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently swab the insects on the plant. Replace the swab as needed and continue treating each infested area. For pests like mealybugs, you’ll notice an almost instant reaction as they lose their protective white fuzz and turn yellow or orange. After 2 to 3 hours, rinse the plant with water to remove any remaining alcohol.

Not Enough Sunlight

While Aloe vera is a hardy houseplant, it doesn’t thrive without at least bright, indirect sunlight. As desert plants, aloes require ample light and will actively seek it if they don’t get enough.

Often, Aloe vera will start growing toward the nearest light source, such as a window. This process, called etiolation, causes the stems to stretch, making them structurally weaker. Weak stems are unable to support the weight of the leaves, leading to aloe vera drooping or even falling over.

To prevent etiolation, place your aloe in a brightly lit spot, ideally near a south or west-facing window. This ensures the plant gets the light it needs to stay healthy and upright.

Root Rot

Overwatering is the leading cause of root rot in drooping aloe plants. Roots need air pockets around them to stay healthy. When constantly submerged in water, the root tissues begin to break down and decompose.

Healthy roots are firm, typically white, and may even have small root hairs. In contrast, roots affected by rot will appear brown or black and feel slimy or gooey. Another clear sign of root rot is the smell of stagnant water coming from the pot. Without healthy roots to anchor the plant, your aloe will droop or fall over due to its unstable base.

To prevent root rot and stop your aloe plant drooping, focus on three key factors: proper watering techniques, the right soil type, and adequate drainage. These combined practices will effectively reduce the risk of root rot and promote a healthy, thriving plant.