Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity level in the room.
- Feel the soil to see if it is drying out too fast.
- Smell the water you use for watering.
Likely causes
Low humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crispy and brown while the rest of the frond stays green. This happens often in heated homes during winter.
What to do: Mist the fronds daily with distilled water or place the fern near a humidifier. You can also group it with other plants to create a microclimate.
Mineral buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips brown even when the soil is moist. This is often caused by salts or chlorine in tap water.
What to do: Switch to using filtered, distilled, or rainwater for watering. Flush the soil thoroughly with clean water once a month to wash out accumulated salts.
Find out what's wrong with your silver tree 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.
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When to worry
It is normal for the oldest, lowest fronds to brown as they age. Worry if the new growth starts showing crispy edges.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the fern away from direct heating vents and maintain a consistent humidity level above 60 percent.
Silver tree fern: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your silver tree 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 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.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once a leaf tip turns brown and crispy, it will not recover. Focus on keeping the new growth healthy.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Silver tree fern
- Why is my silver tree fern drooping?
- Why are my silver tree fern's leaves turning yellow?
- Why does my Silver tree fern have pests?
- Why is my Silver tree fern suffering from root rot?
- Why is my Silver tree fern dropping its leaves?
- Why does my silver tree fern have spots on its fronds?
- Why is my silver tree fern growing so leggy?
- Why are my silver tree fern's fronds curling?
Back to the Silver tree 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.