Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the top inch of soil to see if it is dry.
- Check the humidity levels in the room.
- Inspect the pot to ensure it has proper drainage.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the frond looks okay. This happens often in homes with central heating or air conditioning.
What to do: Group your ferns together to create a humid microclimate. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water, making sure the bottom of the pot stays above the water line.
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dusty or pulls away from the edges of the pot. The entire plant may look slightly wilted along with the brown tips.
What to do: Water your fern thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Aim to keep the soil evenly moist, watering every 3 to 7 days depending on your home temperature.
Find out what's wrong with your new york 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 and die back as the plant grows. Worry if the new, emerging fronds are showing brown tips.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and mist the fronds occasionally if your home air is very dry.
New York fern: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your new york 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
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Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim the brown tips with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. 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 its green color. Focus on preventing new growth from browning.
Guides to these causes
More problems with New York fern
- Why are my New York fern's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my New York fern drooping?
- Why is my New York fern wilting and smelling bad?
- Why are my New York fern fronds falling off?
- Why are there spots on my New York fern?
- Why are there bugs on my New York fern?
- Why is my New York fern looking thin and leggy?
- Why are my New York fern's fronds curling?
Back to the New York 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.