Should I trim the brown tips off?

You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the green tissue.

Does tap water cause brown tips?

Sometimes high chlorine or mineral content can cause this. If you suspect this, let your water sit out for 24 hours before using it.

Habanero pepper: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the soil moisture level.
Review your recent fertilizer application frequency.
Look for salt crusts on the soil surface.

Likely causes

Inconsistent Watering
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown because the plant cannot pull enough water to the leaf edges. This happens when the soil dries out completely for too long.
What to do: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Make sure to soak the soil thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes.
Fertilizer Burn
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This is caused by an excess of salts in the soil from too much fertilizer.
What to do: Flush the soil with plain water to wash out excess salts. Wait 4 weeks before applying any more fertilizer.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your habanero pepper

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 spreads to the center of the leaves or affects new growth. A tiny bit of browning on the very oldest leaves is often just natural aging.

Stopping it coming back

Stick to a consistent watering routine and use a balanced fertilizer at half strength.

Habanero pepper: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your habanero pepper 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 off?: You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the green tissue.
Does tap water cause brown tips?: Sometimes high chlorine or mineral content can cause this. If you suspect this, let your water sit out for 24 hours before using it.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my habanero plant's leaf tips turning brown?