Can I trim the brown tips?

You can trim the brown parts off with sharp scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Is tap water bad for my palm?

Areca palms are sensitive to chemicals like fluoride and chlorine found in tap water. Using filtered or rainwater often helps prevent brown tips.

Areca palm: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if the air near the plant is very dry.
Feel if the soil has been allowed to dry out too much.
Examine the soil surface for white crusty deposits.

Likely causes

Low humidity
Most likely
How to tell: The tips of the fronds turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf looks fine.
What to do: Mist the leaves daily or place the palm near a humidifier. Grouping it with other plants can also help create a more humid microclimate.
Salt buildup
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is kept moist and humidity is high.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away excess fertilizer salts. Avoid using tap water if it has high mineral content.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your areca palm

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

Minor browning on the very tips is common in indoor environments. Worry if the brown patches start moving down the leaf toward the stem.

Stopping it coming back

Use filtered water and keep the humidity levels above 50 percent to keep leaf tips green.

Areca palm: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your areca palm 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.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I trim the brown tips?: You can trim the brown parts off with sharp scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Is tap water bad for my palm?: Areca palms are sensitive to chemicals like fluoride and chlorine found in tap water. Using filtered or rainwater often helps prevent brown tips.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Areca palm's leaf tips turning brown?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your areca palm?