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Slender St. John's Wort · Hypericum pulchrum

Why are my Hypericum pulchrum leaf tips turning brown?

It is less common for this plant to develop brown tips, which usually happens due to low humidity or inconsistent watering. Check if the air around your plant is too dry or if you are skipping waterings.

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Check these first

  1. Check if the soil is bone dry.
  2. Observe the air quality near the plant for drafts or heat vents.
  3. Feel the texture of the brown tips to see if they are crispy.

Likely causes

  1. Low humidity

    Most likely

    How to tell: The very tips of the leaves turn dry and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This is common in homes with central heating or air conditioning.

    What to do: Place the plant on a tray filled with pebbles and a little water to increase local humidity. You can also group it with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.

  2. Underwatering

    Possible

    How to tell: The leaves feel brittle and the tips turn brown as the plant struggles to move water to the edges. The soil will feel very dry and pull away from the sides of the pot.

    What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Maintain a schedule of watering every 5 to 10 days depending on your home environment.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your slender st. john's wort

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

A few brown tips are usually just a sign of minor environmental stress. Worry if the brown patches start to spread inward or cover most of the leaf surface.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy and avoid placing the plant directly in front of air vents.

Slender St. John's Wort: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your slender st. john's wort 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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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 scissors if you do not like how they look.
Does tap water cause brown tips?
Sometimes, if your tap water has high mineral content, it can cause salt buildup that leads to brown tips. Try using filtered or rainwater if you suspect this is the cause.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Slender St. John's Wort

Back to the Slender St. John's Wort 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.