Should I trim the brown tips off?

You can trim the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Is my plant dying if the tips are brown?

Not necessarily, as long as the rest of the plant looks healthy. It is usually just a warning sign that your care routine needs a small adjustment.

Chili pepper: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the moisture level of the top inch of soil.
Review your recent fertilizer application history.
Feel the soil to see if it feels compacted or salty.

Likely causes

Inconsistent Watering
Most likely
How to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. This happens when the plant experiences cycles of extreme drought followed by heavy soaking.
What to do: Stick to a consistent schedule where you water when the top inch of soil is dry. Aim to keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy.
Fertilizer Burn
Possible
How to tell: The brown tips appear shortly after you apply fertilizer. The edges may look scorched or brittle.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of plain water to wash out excess salts. Reduce your fertilizer strength by half for the next few feedings.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your chili 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 toward the center of the leaf or affects the whole plant. Minor tip browning is often just a sign of environmental stress.

Stopping it coming back

Water regularly and use a balanced fertilizer at half strength to avoid salt buildup.

Chili pepper: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your chili 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 the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Is my plant dying if the tips are brown?: Not necessarily, as long as the rest of the plant looks healthy. It is usually just a warning sign that your care routine needs a small adjustment.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my chili pepper leaves getting brown tips?