Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil moisture at a depth of 3 inches.
- Check if the browning is worse on the side facing the afternoon sun.
- Examine the soil for white crusty deposits.
Likely causes
Drought stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown during the heat of summer. The soil feels dry several inches down.
What to do: Water the plant deeply once every 7 to 14 days during dry spells. Ensure the water reaches the root zone by letting the hose trickle slowly at the base for 30 minutes.
Salt or mineral buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips brown even when the soil feels moist. This often happens if you use heavy fertilizers or have very hard water.
What to do: Flush the soil with a large volume of plain water to wash away excess salts. Avoid using chemical fertilizers and switch to a light layer of organic compost in the spring.
Find out what's wrong with your oceanspray
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
Minor browning in late summer is common as the plant prepares for dormancy. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly across the entire leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Apply a 2 inch layer of wood mulch around the base of the shrub to keep the roots cool and retain moisture.
Oceanspray: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your oceanspray 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
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Questions people ask
- Can I trim off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can snip them off for aesthetic reasons, but it will not fix the underlying cause.
- Is my plant dying?
- Likely not. Oceanspray is very resilient and usually recovers once the watering schedule is corrected.
Guides to these causes
More problems with oceanspray
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.