What to Do When Your Aloe Vera Is Rotting from the Crown?

Aloe vera is a resilient plant, but it can sometimes encounter problems like all succulents.

One of the issues Aloe vera growers face is crown rot—a condition where the center of the plant starts to decay. If you’ve noticed your Aloe vera suffering from this, don’t panic! You may still be able to save the plant or at least make the most out of the situation.

When the crown begins to rot, the plant can no longer grow new leaves. It will continue to survive for a while, but eventually, the remaining leaves will die off due to old age.

What Happens to an Aloe Vera with Crown Rot?

Interestingly, even though the main plant is doomed, it often has one last survival trick—producing pups! These small offshoots, also known as Aloe vera babies, may emerge from the sides of the plant or even from the rotting crown itself. So instead of discarding the plant immediately, it's best to wait and allow it to produce pups. These new growths can become healthy Aloe vera plants of their own.

How to Help Your Aloe Vera Survive

If your Aloe vera’s crown is rotting but it’s still producing pups, here’s what you can do:

1. Trim the Old Leaves

Once you see pups emerging, trim away the old and damaged leaves. This helps the plant redirect its energy and nutrients toward growing the pups instead of maintaining dying leaves.

2. Wait and Observe Growth

After about 20 days, you’ll notice a significant difference. The pups will grow larger, and new ones may continue to appear.

After another 20 days, the pups may look big enough to be separated. However, Aloe vera pups attached to the stem usually have fewer roots and still rely on the main plant for support.

3. When to Separate the Pups

While you can separate pups at this stage, waiting a little longer can be beneficial. Larger pups with more developed roots recover and thrive faster when replanted.

Final Thoughts

Crown rot can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of your Aloe vera plant. By patiently allowing it to produce pups and carefully nurturing them, you can continue to grow healthy Aloe plants from the remnants of the old ones.

Have you ever dealt with crown rot in Aloe vera? Share your experience in the comments below!

You can also watch the video below for visual guide on how to do it.