Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity levels in your home.
- Look for white mineral deposits on the soil or pot rim.
- Evaluate your water source for high salt or chlorine content.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green.
What to do: Mist the plant occasionally or place it near other plants to create a more humid microclimate. You can also use a pebble tray filled with water.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear despite regular watering, often accompanied by a white crust on the soil surface.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away excess salts. Use a balanced fertilizer sparingly during the growing season.
Find out what's wrong with your spanish shawl
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
If the browning starts to move inward toward the center of the leaf, it may indicate a larger issue like root damage. Minor tip browning is usually just a cosmetic reaction to dry air.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered water and keep the plant away from direct drafts or heating vents.
Spanish Shawl: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your spanish shawl 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.
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Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Is tap water bad for this plant?
- Tap water is usually fine, but if your water is very hard, it can cause salt buildup over time. Switching to filtered water can help.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Spanish Shawl
- Why is my Spanish Shawl suffering from root rot?
- Why does my Spanish Shawl have pests?
- Why is my Spanish Shawl looking leggy?
- Why are my Spanish Shawl leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Spanish Shawl drooping?
- Why is my Spanish Shawl losing its leaves?
- Why is my Spanish Shawl not blooming?
- Why are my Spanish Shawl leaves curling?
Back to the Spanish Shawl 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.