Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the top inch of soil to ensure it is not bone dry.
- Check the humidity level in the room with a hygrometer.
- Smell the water you are using for any chemical scent.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The edges of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green.
What to do: Place your plant on a pebble tray filled with water or run a humidifier nearby. Aim for humidity levels between 50 to 60 percent.
Tap Water Sensitivity
Most likelyHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil moisture is consistent and the air feels humid.
What to do: Switch to using distilled water, rainwater, or filtered water. Avoid using tap water that contains chlorine or fluoride.
Find out what's wrong with your calathea
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 leaves to develop small brown tips as they age. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly across new growth.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your Calathea away from heating vents and use only filtered or distilled water for every watering.
Calathea: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your calathea 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 trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim them with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once leaf tissue turns brown and crispy, it will not recover. Focus on preventing the damage from spreading to new leaves.
More problems with Calathea
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.