Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it has dried out completely.
- Check the drainage holes to ensure water is not pooling at the bottom.
- Assess the surrounding air temperature for signs of heat stress.
Likely causes
Inconsistent watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the leaf tips are crispy and brown. The plant may also look slightly wilted during the hottest part of the day.
What to do: Water your plant every 3 to 7 days to keep the soil consistently moist. Ensure you soak the soil thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes.
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown even when the soil is moist. This often happens in very dry indoor environments or during extreme heat waves.
What to do: Mist the foliage occasionally or place the plant in a location with better airflow. If indoors, consider using a pebble tray to increase the humidity around the plant.
Find out what's wrong with your poison hemlock
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
Brown tips are a warning sign that the plant is struggling with its water intake. It is normal to see a few old leaves at the base turn brown as the plant matures.
Stopping it coming back
Stick to a regular watering schedule and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Keep your poison hemlock 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 tips with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does fertilizer cause brown tips?
- Excessive fertilizer can cause salt buildup in the soil, which leads to burnt leaf tips. Flush the soil with plain water if you suspect over-fertilizing.
More problems with Poison hemlock
- Why are there bugs on my poison hemlock?
- Why is my poison hemlock growing so leggy?
- Why are my poison hemlock leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my poison hemlock drooping?
- Why are there spots on my poison hemlock leaves?
- Why is my poison hemlock suffering from root rot?
- Why are my poison hemlock leaves curling?
Back to the Poison hemlock guide
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.