Brown tips on leaves: causes and fixes

Causes and how to tell them apart

1. Low humidity[1][2]

   How to tell: Worst in winter when the heating is on. Leaves look shrivelled and crispy with brown tips and edges, and may drop early.

2. Uneven or too little watering[3][4]

   How to tell: The soil dries out for too long between waterings. Check the roots: browning in the middle of leaves points to overwatering instead.

3. Fertilizer salt build-up[1][5]

   How to tell: A white crust may show on the soil surface or outside the pot, and you have been feeding often or at strong doses.

4. Chlorine or fluoride in tap water[1]

   How to tell: Tips brown slowly over a long time on sensitive plants such as spider plant, ti plant, dracaena, prayer plant and calathea.

5. Cold drafts[6][2]

   How to tell: The plant sits near a door, window or vent, and leaf edges go dry or yellow.

What to do, step by step

1. Trim off the brown parts with scissors if you like. Browning will return unless you fix the cause.[1]
2. Raise humidity with a humidifier, a pebble tray, a terrarium, or by grouping plants.[3]
3. Water on a steady routine, and water thoroughly until water comes out of the bottom of the pot.[1][7]
4. If salts have built up, flush the soil with clean water, cut back on fertilizer, and repot if needed.[3][5]
5. If your tap water may be the cause, switch to a different water source.[1]
6. Move plants away from drafts from doors, heat vents and windows.[3]

How to prevent it

• Keep humidity up in winter. Bathrooms and kitchens are naturally more humid than other rooms.[2]
• Use fertilizer at the correct rate and how often the label says.[5]
• Check soil moisture and only water when needed.[2]
• Choose plants that match the conditions in your room.[4]