Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is bone dry to the touch.
- Feel the texture of the brown tips to see if they are crispy.
- Assess the humidity levels in your room.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaf tips are dry, crispy, and brown. The soil feels very dry or pulls away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Water the tree deeply until water runs out of the drainage holes. Maintain a schedule of watering every 3 to 7 days.
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips brown even when the soil is moist. This is common in dry indoor environments.
What to do: Mist the leaves occasionally or place a tray of water and pebbles near the base. This increases the moisture in the air around the foliage.
When to worry
Minor browning on the very tips is common and not a major concern. Worry if the brown patches start spreading inward toward the center of the leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Ensure the tree is not sitting directly in the path of a heater or air conditioning vent.
Not sure which one it is? Photograph your fish poison tree.
This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors. Try to follow the natural shape of the leaf.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once a leaf tip turns brown and dies, it will not turn green again. Focus on keeping the rest of the leaf healthy.
More problems with Fish poison tree
Back to the Fish poison tree guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.