Brown Leaf Tips
Crispy brown edges or tips — usually an air or water problem.
Symptoms
- ✓Tips of leaves go brown and papery
- ✓Damage runs along the edge of the leaf
- ✓Rest of the leaf stays green
- ✓Worse in winter when heating is on
Causes
- Low humidity, especially with central heating
- Fluoride and chlorine build-up from tap water
- Inconsistent watering — cycles of drought and flood
- Over-fertilising leading to salt burn
Treatment
- 01Trim the brown edges with clean scissors, following the natural leaf shape.
- 02Switch to filtered, distilled, or rainwater.
- 03Flush the soil with plenty of plain water to wash out excess fertiliser and mineral salts.
- 04Raise humidity — group plants, run a humidifier, or move to a bright bathroom.
Prevention
- Keep humidity above 50% for tropical plants.
- Leave tap water out overnight if you can't switch to filtered.
- Fertilise at half strength during the growing season only.
- Water thoroughly and consistently — never little and often.
Commonly affects
FAQ
Will brown tips grow back green?+
No. Damaged tissue stays brown. New leaves will grow clean if you fix the underlying cause.
Is misting enough to raise humidity?+
Not really — it only helps briefly. A humidifier or grouping plants is much more effective.
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