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St. Bernard's lily · Anthericum liliago

Why are my St. Bernard's lily leaf tips turning brown?

Brown tips on your St. Bernard's lily are usually a sign of low humidity or mineral buildup from tap water. Check your water source and the air moisture levels first.

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Check these first

  1. Feel the soil to see if it is dry.
  2. Check the air humidity near the plant.
  3. Inspect the water source for high mineral content.

Likely causes

  1. Low Humidity

    Most likely

    How to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green. This happens often in dry indoor air during winter.

    What to do: Mist the leaves every few days or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. Keep the plant away from heat vents or drafty windows.

  2. Tap Water Salts

    Possible

    How to tell: Tips brown slowly over time despite regular watering. You might see a white crust on the soil surface.

    What to do: Switch to filtered or distilled water for a few weeks. Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash out accumulated minerals.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your st. bernard's lily

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 very oldest leaves to show some browning as they age. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly to new growth.

Stopping it coming back

Use distilled water and keep the plant away from direct airflow from heaters or air conditioners.

St. Bernard's lily: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your st. bernard's lily 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.

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Questions people ask

Should I cut off the brown tips?
Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does this mean my plant is dying?
Not at all. Brown tips are a common cosmetic issue that rarely kills the plant.

More problems with St. Bernard's lily

Back to the St. Bernard's lily 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.