Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the air humidity in your home.
- Look for white crust on the soil surface.
- Feel if the brown tips are crispy or soft.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens in winter when indoor heating is on.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a more humid microclimate. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and a little water.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and you might see a white crust on the surface of the soil. This is caused by salts in tap water.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash out excess salts. Use filtered water for future waterings to prevent the buildup.
Find out what's wrong with your calico 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
It is normal to see a tiny bit of browning if the air is very dry. Worry if the brown patches start spreading to the center of the leaves.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your plant away from direct heat vents and use filtered water if your tap water is very hard.
Calico Plant: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your calico 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
- Should I trim the brown tips?
- You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors, but try not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does this plant flower?
- This plant is grown primarily for its colorful foliage and rarely flowers in indoor conditions. It needs high light to bloom, but it is not a primary concern for most growers.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Calico Plant
Back to the Calico 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.