Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is dry and crumbly.
- Check if the browning is occurring on all leaves or just the edges.
- Review your recent watering frequency.
Likely causes
Drought Stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil is bone dry and the brown tips feel crispy to the touch. This happens during long dry spells.
What to do: Water the tree deeply, ensuring the moisture reaches the root zone. Apply a 2 inch layer of mulch around the base to retain soil moisture.
Salt Accumulation
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil feels moist. This often happens if you use heavy fertilizers.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash away excess salts. Avoid over fertilizing in the future.
Find out what's wrong with your tree of heaven
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
Worry if the browning moves inward toward the leaf center. Minor tip browning is common during peak summer heat.
Stopping it coming back
Mulch the base of the tree to keep roots cool and hydrated.
Tree of heaven: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your tree of heaven 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 off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can trim them for aesthetics. Use clean, sharp scissors and cut just outside the green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes, if your water has high mineral content. If you suspect this, try using collected rainwater.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Tree of heaven
Back to the Tree of heaven 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.