Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is bone dry and pulling away from the pot.
- Look for white mineral deposits on the soil surface.
- Verify that you are watering deeply enough to reach all the roots.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaf tips become crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf feels dry. The soil pulls away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Increase your watering frequency slightly, but ensure you still allow the soil to dry out. Water deeply until liquid runs out of the drainage holes.
Salt Accumulation
PossibleHow to tell: A white crust appears on the soil surface or the rim of the pot. The leaf tips brown even though you water regularly.
What to do: Flush the soil by running clean, room temperature water through the pot for several minutes. This helps wash out excess mineral salts that build up over time.
Find out what's wrong with your carob
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
Occasional brown tips are common in older leaves. Worry if the browning is moving inward toward the center of the leaf or affecting new growth.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered water if your tap water is very hard, and flush the soil every few months.
Carob: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your carob 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
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, but try not to cut into the healthy green tissue. It is purely for aesthetic reasons.
- Does humidity affect my carob tree?
- Carob trees prefer dry conditions, so low humidity is rarely the cause of brown tips. Focus on your watering schedule instead.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Carob
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.