Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is currently moist.
- Inspect the soil surface for white mineral deposits.
- Verify the type of water you are using.
Likely causes
Mineral buildup
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn brown and crispy, even though the soil is wet. You may see white crusty deposits on the soil surface.
What to do: Switch to distilled or rainwater immediately. Flush the soil thoroughly with clean water to wash away accumulated salts.
Brief drying out
PossibleHow to tell: The soil surface feels dry to the touch. The brown tips appear suddenly after a period of neglect.
What to do: Ensure the plant is sitting in a tray of water at all times. Never allow the soil to dry out, even for a few hours.
Find out what's wrong with your common cottongrass
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
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
Brown tips are rarely fatal but indicate the plant is unhappy. If the browning spreads down the entire leaf, the plant is under severe stress.
Stopping it coming back
Use only rainwater or distilled water and maintain a constant water level in the tray.
Common cottongrass: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common cottongrass 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
- Can I trim the brown tips?
- Yes, you can snip the brown ends off with clean scissors. This is purely for aesthetics.
- Is my plant dying?
- Probably not. As long as the base of the plant is green and the roots are healthy, it will recover with proper care.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Common cottongrass
Back to the Common cottongrass 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.