Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity levels in the room.
- Consider the type of water you are using.
- Inspect the soil for salt crusts.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green.
What to do: Place the plant on a pebble tray filled with water or use a humidifier nearby. Avoid placing it directly in front of air conditioning vents.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is consistently moist.
What to do: Switch to filtered or distilled water to avoid chlorine and fluoride buildup. Flush the soil with fresh water once a month to remove excess salts.
Find out what's wrong with your bear paw
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 cosmetic and rarely fatal. If the browning starts spreading to the center of the leaf, check for root issues.
Stopping it coming back
Keep humidity levels moderate and use filtered water if your tap water is heavily treated.
Bear Paw: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your bear paw 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 aesthetic reasons. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
- Is my plant dying?
- No, brown tips are common and usually just a sign that the plant needs a slightly more humid environment.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Bear Paw
- Why is my Purple Passion Plant drooping?
- Why is my Purple Passion Plant getting so leggy?
- Why are my Purple Passion Plant's leaves turning yellow?
- Why does my Purple Passion Plant have pests?
- How do I fix root rot on my Purple Passion Plant?
- Why is my Purple Passion plant dropping leaves?
- Why does my Purple Passion plant have spots?
- Why are my Purple Passion plant's leaves curling?
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.