Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture to see if it is bone dry.
- Recall if you have applied fertilizer recently.
- Look for signs of salt buildup on the surface of the soil.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, brittle, and brown. This often happens during hot, dry spells when the plant cannot pull enough moisture to the leaf edges.
What to do: Water your plant deeply until water runs out of the drainage holes. Ensure the top inch of soil is dry before watering again, but do not let the root ball dry out completely. Applying a layer of mulch around the base can help retain moisture.
Fertilizer Burn
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and look scorched, even though the soil is moist. This occurs if you have applied too much fertilizer at once.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash away excess salts. Avoid fertilizing for at least 2 months to give the roots time to recover. In the future, use a slow release fertilizer at half the recommended strength.
Find out what's wrong with your bottlebrush
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
Brown tips are rarely fatal, but they indicate the plant is struggling to maintain hydration. If the browning spreads to the entire leaf, the plant is under significant stress.
Stopping it coming back
Water consistently and avoid over fertilizing your Bottlebrush to keep the foliage healthy and green.
Bottlebrush: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your bottlebrush 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
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Questions people ask
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the green part of the leaf.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- If your tap water is very hard or contains high levels of chlorine, it can sometimes cause salt buildup that leads to brown tips. Using rainwater can help if you suspect this is the cause.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Bottlebrush
- Why are there bumps on my Bottlebrush stems?
- Why is my Bottlebrush looking wilted and sad?
- Why is my Bottlebrush not producing flowers?
- Why is my Bottlebrush plant growing so leggy?
- Why are my Bottlebrush leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Bottlebrush plant drooping?
- Why is my Bottlebrush losing its leaves?
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.