Check these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Check the air near the plant for drafts from heaters or vents.
- Look at the soil surface for white mineral deposits.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaf edges become crisp and brittle while the rest of the leaf stays green. This often happens in winter when heaters are running.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a microclimate or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. You can also mist the leaves lightly every few days.
Tap Water Salts
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and slowly progress inward, often accompanied by white crusty buildup on the soil surface.
What to do: Switch to filtered or distilled water for a few weeks. If you must use tap water, let it sit out in an open container for 24 hours before watering to let chlorine evaporate.
Find out what's wrong with your grape ivy
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
A few brown tips are normal, but if the browning spreads rapidly to half the leaf, you need to adjust your environment immediately.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your Grape Ivy away from direct heat sources and maintain consistent soil moisture.
Grape Ivy: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your grape ivy 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?
- Yes, you can trim them with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does misting really help?
- Misting provides a temporary boost in humidity. It is helpful, but using a humidifier is more effective for long term health.
More problems with Grape Ivy
- Why are my Grape Ivy leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Grape Ivy looking so leggy?
- Why is my Grape Ivy drooping?
- How do I get rid of pests on my Grape Ivy?
- How do I fix root rot in my Grape Ivy?
- Why is my Grape Ivy losing leaves?
- Why does my Grape Ivy have spots on its leaves?
- Why are my Grape Ivy leaves curling?
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.
