Why do my leaves have brown tips?Updated 3 years ago

Oops, your plant has brown tips? No worries. There could be five possible reasons why your plant babies are suffering. Trim the leaves of the brown ends and investigate these four suggestions on what might be the problem. Then get out the magnifying glass and do some sleuthing!

1. Underwatering. First, check the soil moisture level. Have you skipped a beat in watering your 'precious?' Our 3 in 1 plant meter is a handy tool to check and see what the soil at the root level is reading. That old-fashion method of 'sticking-your-finger' in the soil isn't smart enough for our Lively Root plants. (And who has a long enough finger to dig down in those gallon+ size pots?) This clever gadget is 'high-tech' to keep those roots moist but not too soggy. Your plant care card you received with your plant baby will give you instructions on what moisture level to keep your plant happy. If a lack of moisture is an issue, get yourself on a schedule and tell them you're sorry they got thirsty. Staying consistent with your water schedule will prevent further browning, and your plants will love you for it.
2. Dry Air. Some plants like a humid environment. They are being raised in a very humid greenhouse, so the air moisture is essential to their state of happiness. Use a hygrometer to check the humidity level in your home. If it's not enough, take these steps to add humidity around your plant. Or take them with you to the shower to give them extra humidity but put some sunglasses on them while you bathe.
3. High Temperatures. High temperatures in a dry environment can cook the roots of a plant since they're not in the ground but a container planting. And we don't want them to suffer from scrambled roots. If direct sunlight hits the leaves, the combination of the two can dry out the plant and sunburn the leaves. Ouch! In the early growth stage, Lively Root nurtures our plants in a greenhouse with indirect light. Many of our indoor plants can't tolerate the sun's intense rays, which can scorch the leaf or dry out the soil too fast. So give them some TLC and move them away from hot drafts, hot sunlight, and to their favorite spot.
4. Overfeeding. Too much of a good thing can make us sick, including our plants. Over-fertilizing can produce drying from the salts. If you are fertilizing with full strength, back it down to half-strength and less frequently.
5. Softened water. If you have a water softener and use salt, switch to watering your plant with distilled or filtered water. The salts will accumulate in the potting mix, and it dries out the plant faster, causing the browning tips.

Plants most susceptible to brown tips: Peace lily, Spider lily, Prayer Plant, Dracaena, Palms, Ti plants.