Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Identify if you are using tap water.
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Look for signs of salt buildup on the container rim.
Likely causes
Fluoride or chlorine sensitivity
Most likelyHow to tell: The very ends of the leaves turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf stays green. This happens gradually over time.
What to do: Switch to using distilled, bottled, or rainwater. These sources do not contain the harsh chemicals that cause tip burn.
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The brown tips appear alongside dry, brittle leaf edges. This is common in homes with air conditioning or heating.
What to do: Mist the leaves occasionally or place the plant on a pebble tray with water. Keep the plant away from direct air vents.
Find out what's wrong with your lucky bamboo
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 mostly cosmetic and rarely kill the plant. You only need to worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Always use filtered or distilled water for your Lucky Bamboo. Avoid using water that has been softened, as it contains salts that hurt the plant.
Lucky Bamboo: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your lucky bamboo 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
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips?
- You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green part of the leaf.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once a leaf tip turns brown, it will not recover. Focus on preventing new growth from developing the same issue.
More problems with Lucky Bamboo
Back to the Lucky Bamboo 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.