Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil an inch deep to check for dryness.
- Inspect the leaves for any signs of fungal spots.
- Check if the plant is exposed to drying winds.
Likely causes
Inconsistent watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry and crumbly to the touch. The leaves may feel brittle and crispy at the edges.
What to do: Water your plant every 3 to 7 days to keep the soil consistently moist. Add a layer of mulch around the base to help the soil retain water.
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown even though the soil feels damp. This often happens during very hot or dry summer spells.
What to do: Mist the foliage occasionally during extreme heat. Ensure the plant is not sitting directly in the path of a hot air vent or drying wind.
Find out what's wrong with your clematis
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
When to worry
A few brown tips during a heatwave are normal. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly across the entire leaf or stem.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil moist and apply mulch to protect the roots from drying out. This keeps the plant hydrated and happy.
Keep your clematis 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
- Can I trim off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors. This keeps the plant looking tidy without harming it.
- Is this a sign of clematis wilt?
- Usually not, as wilt causes the entire stem to collapse suddenly. Brown tips are typically a sign of environmental stress.
More problems with Clematis
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.