Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture level.
- Look for a white crust on the soil surface.
- Evaluate the local humidity levels.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaf tips are crispy and brown, and the soil feels dry and pulls away from the edges of the pot or planting hole.
What to do: Water the vine deeply until the soil is thoroughly moist. Increase your watering frequency to every 3 to 5 days during hot, dry summer weather.
Salt Accumulation
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil feels moist, and there may be a white crust on the soil surface.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of fresh water to wash away excess salts. Avoid using high-salt chemical fertilizers and switch to a balanced organic option.
Find out what's wrong with your kiwifruit
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.
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When to worry
If the browning is limited to just the very tips, it is usually manageable. If the brown areas start moving inward toward the center of the leaf, the vine is under significant stress.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and protect the roots.
Kiwifruit: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your kiwifruit 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.
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Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- You can trim them for aesthetics using clean scissors, but it won't fix the underlying problem. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Is my tap water causing the brown tips?
- If your water is very hard or high in chlorine, it can cause salt buildup. Try using collected rainwater for a few weeks to see if the condition improves.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Kiwifruit
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.