Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the top inch of soil is dry.
- Feel the texture of the brown tips.
- Observe if the browning is spreading inward.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels bone dry and the leaves look brittle or crispy at the edges.
What to do: Water your plant thoroughly until liquid drains from the bottom. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist by watering every 3 to 7 days.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown even when the soil is damp, often occurring in dry indoor air.
What to do: Move the plant to a more humid area or group it with other plants. You can also mist the foliage lightly once a day.
Find out what's wrong with your soft 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 older, lower leaves to brown as the plant matures. Worry if the browning affects new growth or the majority of the plant.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and ensure the plant receives adequate light without excessive heat stress.
Soft brome: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your soft 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
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 the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
- Can low light cause brown tips?
- Usually, low light causes leggy growth rather than brown tips. Brown tips are almost always related to water or humidity issues.
Guides to these causes
More problems with soft brome
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.