Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture to ensure you are not over or under watering.
- Test your tap water for high mineral content or chlorine.
- Look for signs of pests like scale that might be stressing the plant.
Likely causes
Salt or mineral buildup
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves turn dry and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens if you use tap water with high mineral content or heavy fertilizer.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled water to wash away excess salts. Switch to using filtered or rainwater for your next few waterings.
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The leaf edges and tips become crisp and brown, especially during winter when indoor heating is on. The leaves may feel brittle to the touch.
What to do: Place a humidifier near the tree or group it with other plants to increase the moisture in the air. Avoid placing the tree directly next to heating vents.
Find out what's wrong with your lemon
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
A few brown tips are usually just a sign of environmental stress and are not fatal. You should worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaves or causes leaf drop.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered water and maintain consistent soil moisture to prevent salt buildup and stress.
Keep your lemon healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are 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 lemon tree dying if it has brown tips?
- Not necessarily. It is usually a sign that the tree is unhappy with its environment, but it can recover once you adjust the water or humidity.
More problems with Lemon
- Why are there bumps and trails on my lemon tree leaves?
- Why is my lemon tree losing its leaves?
- Why are my lemon tree leaves turning yellow?
- Why are there spots on my lemon tree leaves?
- Why is my lemon tree not flowering?
- Why is my lemon tree growing so leggy?
- Why is my lemon tree looking sick and the soil stays wet?
- Why is my lemon tree drooping?
- Why are my lemon tree leaves curling?
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.