Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Stick your finger one inch into the soil to check for dryness.
- Look at your recent fertilizing schedule.
- Check if the plant is exposed to drying winds.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels bone dry and the tips of the leaves are crispy and brittle. The plant may also look slightly wilted.
What to do: Water the plant deeply until the soil is moist 6 inches down. Maintain a schedule of watering every 7 to 14 days depending on the heat.
Excessive Fertilizer
PossibleHow to tell: The leaf tips turn brown even though the soil is moist. This often happens after applying a heavy dose of synthetic fertilizer.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash out excess salts. Skip fertilizing for the rest of the season.
Find out what's wrong with your salal
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
If only the very tips are brown, it is likely a minor moisture issue. If the browning is spreading toward the center of the leaf, the plant is under significant stress.
Stopping it coming back
Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to keep the soil moisture consistent. Water deeply during dry summer spells.
Salal: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your salal 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
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does Salal need a lot of water?
- It prefers consistent moisture but hates sitting in standing water. Aim for soil that feels like a wrung out sponge.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Salal
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.