Should I trim the brown tips?

You can trim the brown parts with clean scissors, but avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue. This prevents further stress to the leaf.

Does tap water hurt this plant?

If your tap water is very hard, it can cause mineral buildup that leads to brown tips. Using filtered water is a great way to avoid this.

Wild sarsaparilla: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the humidity levels in the room.
Look for white crust on the soil surface.
Test your tap water for high mineral content.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Most likely
How to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown.
What to do: Group your plant with others to create a humid microclimate. You can also place a tray of water and pebbles near the plant.
Salt Buildup
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is moist, often with a white crust on the soil surface.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled water to wash away excess minerals. Use filtered water for future waterings to prevent salt accumulation.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your wild sarsaparilla

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.

When to worry

Worry if the brown areas start to expand into the center of the leaf. Small, isolated brown tips are common and rarely fatal.

Stopping it coming back

Use filtered or rainwater and keep the plant in a humid environment away from drafts.

Wild sarsaparilla: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wild sarsaparilla 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.

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 with clean scissors, but avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue. This prevents further stress to the leaf.
Does tap water hurt this plant?: If your tap water is very hard, it can cause mineral buildup that leads to brown tips. Using filtered water is a great way to avoid this.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Wild sarsaparilla leaves getting brown tips?