Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity levels in the room.
- Examine your water source for high mineral content.
- Verify that you are not letting the plant dry out too much between waterings.
Likely causes
Low humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf looks fine.
What to do: Increase humidity by grouping plants together or using a humidifier nearby. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water.
Water quality
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil moisture is consistent and the room is humid.
What to do: Switch to filtered or distilled water to avoid mineral buildup from tap water. Flush the soil with clean water once a month to remove accumulated salts.
Find out what's wrong with your lipstick plant
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
Minor brown tips are common in indoor environments. Worry if the browning spreads to more than half of the leaf surface.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant away from heaters and use distilled water if your tap water is hard.
Lipstick plant: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your lipstick plant 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
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does fertilizer cause brown tips?
- Yes, too much fertilizer can cause salt buildup in the soil, which leads to brown tips. Always dilute your fertilizer to half strength.
More problems with Lipstick plant
- Why is my lipstick plant not flowering?
- Why is my lipstick plant dropping leaves?
- Why are my lipstick plant's leaves turning yellow?
- Why does my lipstick plant have pests?
- How do I fix root rot on my lipstick plant?
- Why is my lipstick plant getting so leggy?
- Why is my lipstick plant drooping?
- Why are there spots on my lipstick plant leaves?
- Why are my lipstick plant leaves curling?
Back to the Lipstick plant 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.