Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the soil to see if it is dry.
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Look for signs of heat stress from nearby vents.
Likely causes
Low humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This is common in homes with central heating or air conditioning.
What to do: Place your fern on a pebble tray filled with water to boost local humidity. You can also group it with other plants to create a microclimate.
Inconsistent watering
PossibleHow to tell: The soil feels dry and crumbly to the touch. The plant struggles to pull enough water to the very ends of its delicate fronds.
What to do: Stick to a schedule of watering every 3 to 7 days. Keep the soil evenly moist like a wrung out sponge at all times.
Find out what's wrong with your rattlesnake fern
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 the very oldest fronds to brown as they age. Worry if the new growth is showing brown tips immediately.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering routine and keep the plant away from direct drafts or heating vents.
Rattlesnake fern: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your rattlesnake fern 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
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes the minerals in tap water can build up. If you have hard water, try using filtered or distilled water for a few weeks.
More problems with Rattlesnake fern
- Why does my Rattlesnake fern have dark spots on its leaves?
- Why is my Rattlesnake fern drooping?
- Why is my Rattlesnake fern suffering from root rot?
- Why are my Rattlesnake fern leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Rattlesnake fern dropping leaves?
- Why are there bugs on my Rattlesnake fern?
- Why is my Rattlesnake fern looking so leggy?
- Why are my Rattlesnake fern leaves curling?
Back to the Rattlesnake fern 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.