Should I trim the brown tips?

You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue to prevent further stress.

Does this plant need high humidity?

It prefers moderate humidity levels. While it is not a tropical fern, it will appreciate consistent moisture in the air during the heat of summer.

Bat-faced cuphea: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Feel the air around the plant to see if it is very dry.
Check the soil surface for white mineral deposits.
Review your recent fertilizing schedule.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Possible
How to tell: The tips of the leaves turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens in dry indoor air.
What to do: Mist the leaves with water every morning to increase local humidity. Place a tray of pebbles and water near the plant to create a humid microclimate. Grouping plants together can also help retain moisture.
Fertilizer Burn
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle even when the soil is moist. You might see a white crust on the surface of the soil.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash away excess salts. Stop fertilizing for 4 to 6 weeks to let the plant recover. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength when you resume feeding.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your bat-faced cuphea

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.

When to worry

Brown tips are rarely fatal but indicate the plant is stressed by its environment. Worry if the brown patches start moving inward toward the center of the leaves.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the plant away from heating vents or drafty windows. Use filtered water if your tap water is high in minerals or chlorine.

Bat-faced cuphea: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your bat-faced cuphea 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.

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Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips?: You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue to prevent further stress.
Does this plant need high humidity?: It prefers moderate humidity levels. While it is not a tropical fern, it will appreciate consistent moisture in the air during the heat of summer.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Bat-faced cuphea's leaf tips turning brown?