Should I trim off the brown tips?

You can trim them for aesthetic reasons using clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Does my plant need a humidifier?

It is not strictly necessary, but a flowering maple will appreciate higher humidity. A pebble tray is usually enough to keep it happy.

Flowering Maple: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Feel the top inch of soil to check for dryness.
Check the drainage holes to ensure the pot is not sitting in water.
Observe if the air near the plant feels very dry.

Likely causes

Inconsistent Watering
Most likely
How to tell: The soil feels bone dry and the leaves may look slightly wilted. The tips turn crispy and brown as the plant struggles to move water to the leaf edges.
What to do: Water your plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. Ensure you soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes. Do not let the plant sit in standing water.
Low Humidity
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown even though the soil is consistently moist. This often happens in winter when indoor heating dries out the air.
What to do: Place your plant on a pebble tray filled with water to increase local humidity. You can also group it with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your flowering maple

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

A few brown tips are normal as leaves age. Worry if the browning is spreading rapidly across the entire leaf or affecting new growth.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain a steady watering schedule and keep the plant away from direct heat vents. Consistent care prevents the stress that causes tip browning.

Flowering Maple: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your flowering maple and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I trim off the brown tips?: You can trim them for aesthetic reasons using clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does my plant need a humidifier?: It is not strictly necessary, but a flowering maple will appreciate higher humidity. A pebble tray is usually enough to keep it happy.

Why are my flowering maple leaves getting brown tips?