Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the air around the plant for dryness.
- Look at the soil surface for white mineral crusts.
- Evaluate the water quality you are using.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The very tips of the leaves turn dry and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green. This often happens in dry indoor environments or during hot, arid weather.
What to do: Keep the plant away from direct heat sources like radiators or vents. If the air is very dry, you can group it with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle, and you might see a white crust on the soil surface. This is caused by salts or minerals in your tap water.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash out excess salts. In the future, try using rainwater or filtered water to keep the soil chemistry balanced.
Find out what's wrong with your pearly everlasting
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. You should worry if the brown areas start moving down the leaf toward the stem.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered water and keep the plant in a spot with good air circulation but away from harsh, dry drafts.
Pearly everlasting: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pearly everlasting 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 off?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Is this a sign of powdery mildew?
- No, powdery mildew looks like a white, dusty coating on the leaves. Brown tips are a sign of environmental stress, not a fungal infection.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Pearly everlasting
Back to the Pearly everlasting 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.