Should 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 misting help with brown tips?

Misting only provides a temporary boost in humidity and is rarely enough to stop brown tips. A humidifier or pebble tray is much more effective.

Peacock plant: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Measure the humidity level near the plant.
Check if the soil is drying out too quickly.
Inspect the water source for high mineral content.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Most likely
How to tell: The edges of the leaves become crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green. This happens when the air is too dry for the plant to transpire properly.
What to do: Place your plant on a pebble tray filled with water or group it with other plants to create a microclimate. You can also run a humidifier nearby to keep the air moisture above 50 percent.
Mineral Buildup
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown even when the air feels humid. This is often caused by salts or chlorine in your tap water accumulating in the leaf tips.
What to do: Switch to using filtered, distilled, or rainwater for your watering routine. Flush the soil thoroughly with clean water once a month to wash out any accumulated mineral salts.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your peacock plant

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

It is normal to see a tiny bit of browning on very old leaves. Worry if the browning is spreading rapidly across all new growth.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain consistent humidity and use filtered water to keep those delicate leaf edges healthy.

Peacock plant: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your peacock plant 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

Should 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 misting help with brown tips?: Misting only provides a temporary boost in humidity and is rarely enough to stop brown tips. A humidifier or pebble tray is much more effective.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Peacock plant's leaf tips turning brown?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your peacock plant?