What to do when leaves turn brown at the edges

Brown, crispy edges on otherwise healthy-looking leaves are one of the more common questions we get, and the cause is almost always one of three things: humidity, water quality, or heat.

Low humidity. Many popular houseplants — calatheas, prayer plants, ferns — come from environments far more humid than the average living room, especially once the heat comes on for winter. Dry air pulls moisture out through the leaf edges faster than the roots can replace it, and the tips brown first because they are furthest from the stem. What helps: grouping plants together, a pebble tray with water beneath the pot (not touching it), or a small humidifier nearby. Moving a plant away from a heating vent or a drafty window also makes a real difference.

Water quality. Tap water carries minerals and, in some areas, added chlorine or fluoride, which can build up in soil over time and show as browning tips, particularly on plants sensitive to salts. If you see browning that does not match a dry-air pattern, try switching to filtered or rain water for a few waterings and see if new growth comes in cleaner.

Heat and direct sun. A leaf pressed against a hot window in summer, or sitting too close to a radiator or heating vent, can scorch at the edges the same way skin sunburns. This tends to show up on just the side of the plant facing the heat source, rather than evenly.

What to do now. Trim the fully brown, crispy parts with clean scissors — they will not turn green again, and removing them lets the plant put energy into new growth. Leave any part that is still green, even if the tip is brown. Then address the likely cause above rather than watering more, which is rarely the fix for this particular symptom.

If a plant you are growing keeps browning no matter what you try, bring a photo or the plant itself in on your next visit — it is usually a five-minute fix once we can see it.