Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Check if the plant is near a heater or air vent.
- Look at the leaf edges to see if they feel crispy.
Likely causes
Low humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This is common in homes with air conditioning or heating.
What to do: Mist the leaves with water every few days or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. This creates a small humid zone around the plant.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The entire plant looks slightly wilted and the soil feels hard and dry. The brown tips will be brittle to the touch.
What to do: Give the plant a thorough soak until water runs out of the drainage holes. Check the soil every 3 days to ensure it does not dry out completely.
Find out what's wrong with your anise-scented fern
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 common in indoor environments. Worry if the browning starts spreading toward the center of the leaves.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your plant away from direct drafts and maintain a steady watering rhythm.
Anise-scented fern: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your anise-scented fern 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
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Questions people ask
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- You can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Try to follow the natural shape of the leaf so it looks tidy.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes the minerals in tap water can build up. If you suspect this, try using filtered or rainwater for a few weeks.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Anise-scented fern
Back to the Anise-scented fern guide
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.