Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture to see if it has been dry for too long.
- Examine the water you use for high salt or mineral content.
- Look at the environment to see if the air is extremely dry.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil is bone dry and the tips of the leaves are crispy and brittle.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Ensure you are watering every 5 to 10 days depending on the heat.
Mineral buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips are brown even though the soil feels moist.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away excess salts. Avoid using tap water if it is high in chlorine or fluoride.
Find out what's wrong with your thyme-leaved sandwort
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
A few brown tips are common as the plant ages or if the air is very dry. Worry if the browning is spreading rapidly toward the center of the plant.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and use filtered water if your local tap water is hard.
Thyme-leaved sandwort: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your thyme-leaved sandwort 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?
- You can trim the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does low humidity cause brown tips?
- While sandwort prefers moderate humidity, it is quite hardy. Brown tips are almost always related to watering consistency rather than air moisture.
Guides to these causes
More problems with thyme-leaved sandwort
Back to the thyme-leaved sandwort 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.