Skip to content

Kiwifruit · Actinidia chinensis

Why are my kiwifruit leaves getting brown tips?

Brown tips on kiwifruit leaves are often a sign of environmental stress, specifically related to dry air or inconsistent watering. Start by checking if the soil has dried out too much between waterings.

Check these first

  1. Check the soil moisture level.
  2. Look for a white crust on the soil surface.
  3. Evaluate the local humidity levels.

Likely causes

  1. Underwatering

    Most likely

    How 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.

  2. Salt Accumulation

    Possible

    How 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.

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.

Not sure which one it is? Photograph your kiwifruit.

This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

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

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.

More problems with Kiwifruit

Back to the Kiwifruit guide

This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.