Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the top inch of soil to check for dryness.
- Observe the air quality for signs of extreme dryness.
- Inspect the pot for proper drainage holes.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. This happens often in dry indoor air.
What to do: Mist the leaves with water every morning to increase ambient moisture. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and a little water to create a humid microclimate.
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels completely dry and the plant looks slightly shriveled. Brown tips appear as the plant fails to pull enough water to the leaf edges.
What to do: Water your plant thoroughly until liquid drains from the bottom of the pot. Stick to a schedule of checking the soil every 3 to 7 days and water whenever the top inch feels dry.
Find out what's wrong with your slender false brome
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.
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When to worry
It is normal for the very oldest leaves to develop small brown tips as they age. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly across the entire plant.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and maintain a steady humidity level around the plant.
Slender false brome: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your slender false brome 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
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Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes the minerals in tap water can build up and cause tip burn. If you suspect this, try using filtered or rainwater for a few weeks.
Guides to these causes
More problems with slender false brome
Back to the slender false brome 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.