Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture to see if it is bone dry.
- Look at the water quality you are using.
- Ensure the pot has proper drainage holes.
Likely causes
Salt Accumulation
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This often happens if you use tap water with high mineral content.
What to do: Flush the soil by running clean, filtered water through the pot for several minutes. Let it drain completely and try to use rainwater or distilled water moving forward.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The tips dry out and turn brown because the plant cannot move enough water to the leaf edges. The soil will feel very dry and pull away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Water deeply until you see liquid coming out of the drainage holes. Stick to a schedule of every 3 to 7 days depending on how fast the top inch of soil dries.
Find out what's wrong with your key lime
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
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When to worry
Worry if the brown area spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaf. It is normal to see a tiny bit of browning on very old leaves as they age.
Stopping it coming back
Flush the soil every few months to remove excess salts and maintain a steady watering rhythm.
Key lime: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your key lime 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 snip them off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
- Does fertilizer cause brown tips?
- Yes, using too much fertilizer can burn the roots and show up as brown tips. Always dilute your fertilizer to half strength.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Key lime
- Why are my Key lime tree leaves turning yellow?
- How do I get rid of pests on my Key lime tree?
- What are these spots on my Key lime tree leaves?
- Why is my Key lime tree dropping leaves?
- Why is my Key lime tree not blooming?
- How do I fix root rot on my Key lime?
- Why are my Key lime tree leaves curling?
- Why is my Key lime tree drooping?
- Why is my Key lime tree looking so leggy?
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.