Can I trim the brown tips off?

Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.

Is my tap water causing this?

If your tap water is very hard, the minerals can accumulate in the soil and cause tip burn. Switching to filtered water often solves this.

Heath bedstraw: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if the air near the plant is very dry.
Inspect the soil surface for white mineral deposits.
Evaluate your water source for high salt or chlorine content.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a more humid microclimate. You can also place a tray of pebbles and water near the plant.
Mineral Buildup
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is kept moist, often accompanied by a white crust on the soil surface.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away excess salts. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength once a month during the growing season.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your heath bedstraw

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

If the browning spreads rapidly to the center of the leaves, it could indicate a more serious root issue. A few brown tips on older leaves are normal as the plant ages.

Stopping it coming back

Use filtered water and maintain steady humidity levels around your plant.

Heath bedstraw: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your heath bedstraw 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 off?: Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
Is my tap water causing this?: If your tap water is very hard, the minerals can accumulate in the soil and cause tip burn. Switching to filtered water often solves this.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Heath bedstraw tips turning brown?