Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the top inch of soil to see if it is dry.
- Check the air humidity level in your room.
- Inspect the plant for any nearby heat vents or drafts.
Likely causes
Low humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The edges of the fronds become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the plant looks dull.
What to do: Place your fern on a pebble tray filled with water or group it near other plants. You can also run a humidifier nearby to keep the air moisture above 50 percent.
Inconsistent watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the plant looks slightly shriveled.
What to do: Water your fern every 3 to 7 days to keep the soil evenly damp. Never let the top inch of soil dry out completely.
Find out what's wrong with your maidenhair fern
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
It is normal to see a few brown tips as older fronds age, but if the browning spreads rapidly, your plant is stressed.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and keep the plant away from direct airflow like air conditioners or heaters.
Maidenhair fern: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your maidenhair fern 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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can trim the brown tips with clean scissors to improve the look of the plant. It will not harm the fern.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once a leaf tip turns brown and crispy, it will not recover. Focus on keeping the new growth healthy.
More problems with Maidenhair fern
- Why is my Maidenhair fern drooping?
- Why is my Maidenhair fern losing its leaves?
- Why are my maidenhair fern's leaves turning yellow?
- Why does my maidenhair fern have spots on its leaves?
- How do I get rid of pests on my maidenhair fern?
- Why is my Maidenhair fern showing signs of root rot?
- Why is my Maidenhair fern looking leggy?
- Why are my Maidenhair fern leaves curling?
Back to the Maidenhair fern guide
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.