Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil two inches deep to check for dryness.
- Observe if the browning is happening on the oldest leaves first.
- Check if the plant is receiving more than 8 hours of intense direct sun.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf looks dull or slightly curled. The soil will feel bone dry to the touch.
What to do: Give the plant a thorough watering until moisture drains from the bottom. Maintain a schedule of every 7 to 14 days depending on how hot your local weather is.
Excessive heat
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is in full sun, but the tips are browning despite the soil being moist. This happens during intense heat waves.
What to do: While wall barley loves sun, you can provide a bit of afternoon shade if temperatures are extreme. Ensure the soil is well mulched to keep the roots cool.
Find out what's wrong with your wall barley
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 on the very tips is normal as the plant matures. Worry only if the brown color is moving rapidly down the leaf toward the base.
Stopping it coming back
Keep a consistent watering schedule and ensure the soil has good drainage to prevent root stress.
Wall barley: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wall barley 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
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Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- You can snip them off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. It will not hurt the plant, but it does not fix the underlying cause.
- Is my plant getting too much sun?
- Wall barley is a full sun plant, but if the tips are burning, it might be struggling with a combination of heat and low water.
Guides to these causes
More problems with wall barley
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.