Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is bone dry.
- Feel the air around the plant for dryness.
- Look for nearby heat sources like radiators.
Likely causes
Low humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green.
What to do: Mist the leaves daily or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. Keep the plant away from heating vents or air conditioning drafts.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The soil feels very dry and the leaf tips look brittle.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Try to water every 3 to 7 days to keep the soil consistently damp.
Find out what's wrong with your galangal
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
Brown tips are rarely fatal but indicate the plant is stressed. If the browning spreads to the whole leaf, the plant needs more consistent care.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant in a humid environment and monitor the soil moisture regularly.
Galangal: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your galangal 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?
- You can trim the brown parts off with sharp scissors. Try to follow the natural shape of the leaf tip.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes minerals in tap water can build up in the soil. If you have hard water, try using filtered or rainwater.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Galangal
- Why are my galangal leaves turning yellow?
- How do I know if my galangal has root rot?
- Why is my galangal plant not flowering?
- Why is my galangal plant growing so leggy?
- Why is my galangal plant drooping?
- Why is my Galangal dropping its leaves?
- Why are there spots on my Galangal leaves?
- How do I get rid of pests on my Galangal?
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.