Saving an Overwatered Aloe Vera

Diagnosis: Waterlogged Roots

Water‑soaked, mushy leaves that turn to gel‑like mush indicate overwatering. The likely culprit: a pot without drainage holes. A layer of pebbles at the bottom creates a perched water table—roots stay saturated until soil above is fully wet, starving them of oxygen.

Rescue Steps

1. Remove plant from pot; let root ball air‑dry 1‑2 days.
2. Trim off any dead, mushy leaves or tissue.
3. Dust dry base with rooting hormone powder.
4. Repot in a container with drainage holes using well‑draining cactus/succulent mix.
5. Give bright light; water sparingly—only when soil is dry.

Using a Decorative Pot Without Holes

Drill a hole, or use it as a cachepot: place the aloe in a plain plastic pot with drainage, set on ½″ pea gravel inside the decorative pot.