Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the leaf tips to see if they are dry or crispy.
- Check if you are using tap water with high mineral content.
- Observe the humidity in your home.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips are dry and crispy, especially during winter months.
What to do: Mist the foliage regularly with a spray bottle. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase local humidity.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown even when the soil is moist.
What to do: Switch to using filtered or distilled water instead of tap water. Tap water often contains salts and minerals that build up in the plant tissues.
Find out what's wrong with your scarlet star
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
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When to worry
Brown tips are rarely fatal but indicate the plant is unhappy with its environment. If the brown spreads to the whole leaf, you have a bigger issue.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the central tank filled with fresh water and mist the leaves every few days to maintain moisture.
Scarlet Star: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your scarlet star 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
- Should I trim the brown tips?
- You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetics. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
- Does my plant need a humidifier?
- If your home is very dry, a small humidifier nearby can definitely help your Scarlet Star thrive.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Scarlet Star
- Why is my Scarlet Star looking mushy and rotting?
- What are these brown bumps on my Scarlet Star?
- Why is my Guzmania lingulata not blooming?
- Why are my Guzmania's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Guzmania lingulata drooping?
- Why are there spots on my Guzmania lingulata leaves?
- Why is my Guzmania lingulata looking leggy?
Back to the Scarlet Star 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.