Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the top inch of soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Check the location of the plant to see if it is near a heater.
- Inspect the leaves for any signs of pests like aphids.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips become dry and crispy while the rest of the leaf stays green. This often happens in dry indoor air during winter.
What to do: Move your plant away from heating vents or radiators. You can also place a tray of pebbles and water near the pot to boost local humidity.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown even when the soil is moist. This is often caused by salts or chlorine in tap water.
What to do: Switch to using filtered or rainwater for a few weeks. Flush the soil thoroughly with clean water to help wash out excess mineral salts.
Find out what's wrong with your geranium
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
Worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaf. It is normal for the very oldest bottom leaves to brown and die as the plant grows.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your geranium in a spot with good air circulation and avoid using water with high mineral content.
Keep your geranium healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does this mean I am underwatering?
- Not necessarily, as underwatering usually causes the whole leaf to wilt or turn yellow. Brown tips are more often about environmental stress.
More problems with Geranium
- Why are my Cranesbill leaves turning yellow?
- What are these spots on my Cranesbill leaves?
- Why does my Cranesbill have bugs on it?
- Why is my geranium not blooming?
- How do I fix root rot in my geranium?
- Why is my geranium growing so tall and thin?
- Why is my geranium drooping?
- Why is my geranium losing its leaves?
- Why are my geranium leaves curling?
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.