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, as this can cause further damage.

Is my tap water causing the brown tips?

It is possible if your water is high in minerals or chlorine. Try using filtered or distilled water for a few weeks to see if the condition improves.

Golden trumpet: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Feel the top inch of soil to see if it is completely dry.
Check the humidity levels in the room where the plant sits.
Look for signs of salt buildup on the surface of the soil.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Most likely
How to tell: The tips of the leaves turn dry and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens in winter when indoor heating dries out the air.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a microclimate or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. You can also run a humidifier in the room for 4 to 6 hours a day.
Inconsistent Watering
Possible
How to tell: The soil feels bone dry to the touch, and the leaves may look slightly wilted before the tips turn brown. The plant is struggling to transport water to the very edges of its leaves.
What to do: Establish a strict watering schedule of every 3 to 7 days depending on your home temperature. Ensure the soil stays evenly moist, like a wrung out sponge, at all times.

Find out what's wrong with your golden trumpet

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.

When to worry

Brown tips are rarely fatal, but they indicate that the plant is not perfectly happy with its environment. If the brown patches start spreading to the center of the leaves, you should adjust your care immediately.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the soil moisture consistent and avoid placing the plant near heating vents or drafty windows. Maintaining a stable environment prevents these stress signals.

Keep your golden trumpet healthy from here

Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.

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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, as this can cause further damage.
Is my tap water causing the brown tips?: It is possible if your water is high in minerals or chlorine. Try using filtered or distilled water for a few weeks to see if the condition improves.

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