Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture with your finger.
- Inspect the area around the plant for heat sources.
- Examine the leaves for signs of pests.
Likely causes
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The soil feels dry and crumbly several inches down, and the leaves may feel brittle to the touch.
What to do: Water your plant deeply until moisture runs out of the drainage holes. Maintain a schedule of watering every 7 to 14 days to keep the soil consistently moist.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green and healthy.
What to do: Place a tray of pebbles and water near the base of the plant to increase local humidity. Avoid placing the plant directly in front of heating vents or radiators.
Find out what's wrong with your chinese witch hazel
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
When to worry
Worry if the browning spreads rapidly across the entire leaf surface. Minor tip browning is often just a sign of a temporary dry spell.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid letting the plant sit in dry, hot air.
Keep your chinese witch hazel 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 trim off the brown tips?
- You can trim them for aesthetic reasons using clean, sharp scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes minerals in tap water can build up in the soil and cause tip burn. If you suspect this, try using filtered or rainwater for a few weeks.
More problems with Chinese witch hazel
- Why are there spots on my Chinese witch hazel leaves?
- How do I get rid of pests on my Chinese witch hazel?
- Why are my Chinese witch hazel leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Chinese witch hazel drooping?
- Why is my Chinese witch hazel losing its leaves?
- Why is my Chinese witch hazel not blooming?
- How do I fix root rot on my Chinese witch hazel?
- Why is my Chinese witch hazel growing so leggy?
Back to the Chinese witch hazel guide
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.