Should I trim the brown tips?

You can trim them for looks, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue. Use clean, sharp scissors.

Does my camellia need more humidity?

Sasanquas generally handle standard outdoor humidity well. Brown tips are almost always a root or soil issue rather than an air moisture issue.

Sasanqua camellia: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry or soggy.
Recall if you recently applied fertilizer.
Check the drainage holes to ensure water is not pooling.

Likely causes

Inconsistent watering
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. This happens when the soil dries out completely between waterings.
What to do: Check the soil every 5 to 10 days. Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Fertilizer burn
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear shortly after you have applied fertilizer. This is caused by an excess of salts in the soil.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash away excess salts. Avoid fertilizing again until the plant shows signs of new growth.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your sasanqua camellia

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.

When to worry

Worry if the browning is moving inward from the tips to the center of the leaf. A little bit of tip browning on older leaves is normal.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain a steady watering schedule and use a slow release fertilizer designed for acid loving plants.

Sasanqua camellia: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your sasanqua camellia 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.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips?: You can trim them for looks, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue. Use clean, sharp scissors.
Does my camellia need more humidity?: Sasanquas generally handle standard outdoor humidity well. Brown tips are almost always a root or soil issue rather than an air moisture issue.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Sasanqua camellia leaf tips turning brown?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your sasanqua camellia?