Brown leaf tips
Leaf edges dry out first when water runs short: dry air, uneven watering or salts.
What you'll see
- Leaf tips and edges turn brown and crisp while the rest of the leaf stays green.
- A white crust on the soil or pot rim points to salt buildup.
- Worse in winter with the heating on, or near radiators, vents and drafty doors.
- Spider plants, dracaenas and other plants that react to fluoride show it most.
Why it happens
Leaf edges are the first part to dry out when water runs short, from dry air, uneven watering, salt buildup or fluoride in tap water.
How to fix it
- Trim brown tips with clean, sharp scissors; brown tissue won't turn green again.
- Soak the pot thoroughly when the top inch (2.5 cm) is dry, and never leave roots standing in water.
- Scrape off any white crust and flush the pot with plenty of plain water.
- Raise the humidity and move the plant away from heaters, vents and drafts.
Keep it from coming back
- Use rainwater, distilled or filtered water for sensitive plants, and never softened water.
- Feed at or below the strength on the label, and much less in winter.
- Group plants together in dry, heated rooms.
Read more
- Overwatering vs underwatering
- Tap, rain or filtered water?
- How to fertilize houseplants
- White crust on soil? How to flush salts
- How to prune houseplants
- Winter care for houseplants
- Humidity for houseplants
Sources
- Clemson HGIC: Houseplant diseases and disorders
- RHS: Leaf damage on houseplants
- UC IPM: Houseplant problems
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.