Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the top inch of soil to see if it is dry.
- Check the air humidity levels in your room.
- Inspect the fronds for signs of crispy edges.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crispy and brown while the rest of the frond looks dull.
What to do: Place the fern 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.
Inconsistent Watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels bone dry to the touch and the fronds feel brittle.
What to do: Water your fern every 2 to 4 days when the top inch of soil feels dry. Never let the soil dry out completely, as these ferns have no way to store water.
Find out what's wrong with your delta 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
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When to worry
It is normal to see a few brown tips if the plant is adjusting to a new spot. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly across the entire frond.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and mist the plant daily or use a humidifier nearby.
Delta maidenhair fern: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your delta 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 trim off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. It will not hurt the plant.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once a part of the frond turns brown and crispy, it will not recover. Focus on keeping the new growth healthy.
More problems with Delta maidenhair fern
- Why are my maidenhair fern leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my maidenhair fern drooping?
- Why is my maidenhair fern losing its leaves?
- Why does my Fringed Maidenhair Fern have pests?
- Why are there spots on my Fringed Maidenhair Fern?
- Why is my maidenhair fern suffering from root rot?
- Why is my maidenhair fern looking leggy?
- Why are my maidenhair fern's leaves curling?
Back to the Delta 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.