Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture level with your finger.
- Inspect the water source for high mineral content.
- Look for signs of salt crusting on the soil surface.
Likely causes
Mineral sensitivity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn brown and crisp while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This often happens if you use tap water with high salt or chlorine content.
What to do: Switch to using rainwater or distilled water for a few weeks. Flush the soil thoroughly with clean water to wash out accumulated mineral salts.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The soil feels bone dry and the leaves start to look thin or shriveled. The plant is not getting enough moisture to support its foliage.
What to do: Water deeply until liquid drains from the bottom of the pot. Ensure you are watering every 7 to 14 days when the top inch of soil is dry.
Find out what's wrong with your kangaroo paw
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 for the very oldest leaves to develop small brown tips as they age. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly across new growth.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered or rainwater and avoid using fertilizers that are high in phosphorus, as these can cause salt buildup.
Kangaroo paw: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your kangaroo paw 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 them for aesthetic reasons. Use clean, sharp scissors and cut just above the healthy green tissue.
- Does humidity affect the tips?
- Kangaroo paws prefer dry air, so low humidity is rarely the cause of brown tips. Focus on water quality instead.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Kangaroo paw
Back to the Kangaroo paw 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.