What causes brown tips on houseplant leaves?
Common causes
Brown tips are a symptom, not a disease. The most frequent cause is water stress: either too little water (soil completely dry for long periods) or too much (soggy soil that suffocates roots). Both disrupt the plant's ability to move water to leaf tips.
Low humidity, especially in winter or in air-conditioned rooms, causes tips to dry out. A buildup of salts from fertilizer or softened water can also burn tips. Some plants, like spider plants, dracaenas, and peace lilies, are sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water.
How to fix it
First, check your watering routine. Water when the top inch or two of soil is dry, and ensure the pot drains well. Empty saucers after watering. If humidity is low, group plants together, use a pebble tray, or run a humidifier.
If you suspect fertilizer burn, flush the soil with distilled water several times to leach salts. For fluoride sensitivity, use distilled, rain, or filtered water. Trim brown tips with clean scissors, following the leaf's natural shape, but don't cut into healthy tissue.
- Water consistently; avoid extreme wet or dry.
- Increase humidity with a humidifier or pebble tray.
- Flush soil to remove fertilizer salts.
- Use distilled or rain water for sensitive plants.
- Trim brown tips, leaving a thin margin.
Common mistakes
- Thinking brown tips are a disease and reaching for fungicides; they are usually environmental.
- Over-fertilizing to 'help' the plant, which worsens salt burn.
- Using softened water, which adds sodium and harms plants.
