Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the top inch of soil to check for dryness.
- Observe the surrounding air for drafty vents or heaters.
- Check if the pot feels light when lifted.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the frond looks healthy. This happens often in homes with central heating or air conditioning.
What to do: Place your fern on a tray filled with pebbles and water to boost local humidity. You can also mist the fronds lightly every morning or group it with other plants.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The soil feels bone dry and the fronds may start to droop slightly. The brown tips will feel brittle to the touch.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until liquid drains from the bottom of the pot. Stick to a schedule of watering every 3 to 7 days whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.
Find out what's wrong with your black spleenwort
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
It is normal for very old fronds to brown at the tips as they age. Worry if new growth is showing these signs immediately.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant away from direct airflow and maintain consistent soil moisture.
Black spleenwort: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your black spleenwort 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 with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes, if your water is very high in minerals. Try using filtered or distilled water if the problem persists.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Black spleenwort
- How do I fix root rot on my Black spleenwort?
- What are these brown bumps on my Black spleenwort?
- Why are my Black spleenwort leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Black spleenwort drooping?
- Why is my Black spleenwort losing its leaves?
- Why is my Black spleenwort looking leggy?
- Why are my Black spleenwort leaves curling?
Back to the Black spleenwort 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.