Why is my Aloe plant turning brown?

Your Aloe is most often turning brown from overwatering, which rots the roots and creeps up into the leaf bases as soft brown tissue. Sunburn from sudden intense sun and cold damage below 50F are the next likely causes, with underwatering and salt buildup less common. Check the base first: if it is soft and mushy, treat it as rot and let the soil dry out hard.

Most likely cause

Overwatering is the top cause of a browning Aloe. As a succulent, Aloe stores its own water and is built for long dry spells, so soggy soil starves the roots of oxygen and they begin to rot. That rot then travels up into the stem and lower leaves, showing as brown, water-soaked, mushy tissue rather than crispy edges.

You can confirm it by touch and timing. The browning starts at the base, the affected leaves feel soft and squishy, and the soil has stayed wet for days. If the pot lacks drainage or sits in a saucer of water, this is almost certainly the driver. Stop watering, let the soil dry completely, and in bad cases unpot the plant to cut away rotted roots and stem before replanting in dry, gritty mix.

Other causes

These rank below overwatering but often look similar at a glance.

Sunburn. Brown or reddish-brown dry patches appear on the side facing the window after a sudden move into intense direct sun.
Cold damage. Leaves turn brown, mushy, or translucent after exposure to temperatures below 50F or a cold draft near a window.
Underwatering. Tips and edges go thin, brown, and crispy while the leaves curl and the soil is bone dry.
Salt or fertilizer buildup. Brown leaf tips with a white crust on the soil follow heavy feeding or hard tap water.

How to fix it

Check the base. Press the lower leaves and stem. If they are soft and brown, treat it as rot and act fast; if firm, the problem is light, cold, or thirst.
Stop watering. Let the soil dry out completely, and only water again when it is bone dry several inches down.
Cut out rot. If the base is mushy, unpot the plant, slice off all soft brown tissue with a clean blade, and let the cut callus for a day or two.
Repot in gritty mix. Use a cactus or succulent soil in a pot with drainage holes, and never let it sit in standing water.
Fix the light. Give bright light but move it back from intense midday glass, acclimating to direct sun slowly over two weeks.
Keep it warm. Hold the plant above 50F and away from cold drafts and frosty windows.
Flush salts. If you see crust on the soil, water thoroughly to flush, then cut back on fertilizer to dilute feed during active growth only.

Cause	Tell-tale sign	Fix
Overwatering	Soft, mushy brown base, wet soil	Dry out, cut rot, repot in gritty mix
Sunburn	Brown patches facing the window	Move back from glass, acclimate slowly
Cold damage	Mushy or translucent after a chill	Keep above 50F, away from drafts
Underwatering	Thin, crispy brown tips, dry soil	Water thoroughly when bone dry
Salt buildup	Brown tips with white soil crust	Flush soil, reduce fertilizer

Frequently asked questions

Will brown Aloe leaves turn green again?

No. Browned Aloe tissue is dead and will not regreen. Fix the underlying cause first, then trim badly browned leaves at the base with a clean blade so the plant can put energy into healthy new growth.

Is it normal for the bottom Aloe leaves to brown?

Sometimes. The occasional lowest leaf browning and shriveling as the plant grows is normal aging. But several leaves browning at once, mushy brown bases, or new growth browning points to overwatering, sunburn, or cold instead.

Can too much sun turn my Aloe brown?

Yes. Aloe likes bright light but burns if moved suddenly into intense direct sun. Sunburn shows as brown or reddish-brown patches on the side facing the window, often crispy and dry. Move it back from the glass and acclimate it slowly over two weeks.

Why is my Aloe brown and mushy at the base?

That is almost certainly rot from overwatering. Soggy soil suffocates the roots and the rot creeps up into the stem, turning the base soft, brown, and sometimes smelly. Unpot it, cut away all mushy tissue, and replant the firm part in dry, gritty soil.

Should I cut off brown Aloe leaves?

Yes, once a leaf is mostly brown or has gone mushy. Use a clean, sharp blade and cut at the base of the stem. Removing dead tissue tidies the plant and stops rot spreading, but always correct the watering or light problem first.

How do I stop my Aloe from turning brown?

Water only when the soil is fully dry, use a gritty cactus mix in a pot with drainage, and give bright light without sudden intense midday sun. Keep it above 50F. Consistent dry-down watering and stable conditions prevent most browning.