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Symptom

Brown leaf tips

Brown tips are where water reaches last. Anything that interrupts supply, from dry compost to salt build-up, shows there first. Houseplants are especially prone.

A potted houseplant on a windowsill with crisp brown leaf tips

Look at watering, feeding and the air before anything else. Tips browning on all leaves at once points to the roots or the compost; on new leaves only, to dry air.

Likely causes

Ordered from the usual answer to the less likely one. Each links to the full problem.

  1. A drooping plant in dry, cracked soil Watering Common

    Underwatering

    Tips brown after the compost dries out.
  2. Brown, crisp tips on houseplant leaves Soil & nutrients Common

    Fertiliser burn

    Tips brown after feeding; salt crust visible.
  3. A tomato leaf with pale, papery scorched patches Light & temperature Possible

    Sun scorch and sunscald

    Tips and patches on the leaves facing the sun.
  4. A snake plant with soft, yellowing leaves collapsing in soggy compost Watering Less likely

    Overwatering

    Brown tips with yellowing, in wet compost.