Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Feel if the soil has been dry for too long.
- Look for drafts from air vents or heaters.
Likely causes
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green.
What to do: Group your plant with others to create a humid microclimate. You can also place a humidifier nearby or set the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The entire plant looks slightly dehydrated and the leaves feel thin or brittle.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Ensure you are watering every 7 to 14 days depending on how quickly the soil dries.
Find out what's wrong with your wax vine
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
A few brown tips are usually just a cosmetic issue caused by dry air. Worry only if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaves.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant away from direct airflow from heaters or air conditioners. Maintain a consistent watering schedule so the soil does not stay bone dry for too long.
Wax vine: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wax vine 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
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, the brown parts are dead tissue and will not recover. You can trim them off with clean scissors if you do not like how they look.
- Does misting help with brown tips?
- Misting only provides a temporary boost in humidity. Using a humidifier or a pebble tray is much more effective for this plant.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Wax vine
- Why are there white fuzzy spots on my Hoya linearis?
- Why is my Hoya linearis wilting and turning yellow?
- Why is my Hoya linearis growing long and sparse?
- Why are my Hoya linearis leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Hoya linearis drooping?
- Why is my Hoya linearis dropping leaves?
- Why won't my Hoya linearis bloom?
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.