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Jungle Geranium · Ixora coccinea

Why are my Ixora leaves getting brown tips?

It is less common for an Ixora to have brown tips, but it usually happens when the plant is struggling with low humidity or mineral buildup in the soil. Check your watering habits and the quality of your water first.

Check these first

  1. Check the soil moisture to see if it is too dry.
  2. Inspect the leaf tips for a crisp texture.
  3. Look for white crusty deposits on the soil surface.

Likely causes

  1. Low Humidity

    Possible

    How to tell: The tips turn crisp and dry while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens in dry indoor air or during hot, windy weather.

    What to do: Mist the leaves daily or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. Keep the plant away from air conditioning vents or heaters that dry out the air.

  2. Salt Buildup

    Possible

    How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil feels moist. This is often caused by using tap water with high mineral content or over fertilizing.

    What to do: Flush the soil by running clear water through the pot for several minutes to wash out excess salts. Switch to using rainwater or distilled water for a few weeks to see if the condition improves.

Find out what's wrong with your jungle geranium

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

Worry if the brown area starts spreading rapidly toward the center of the leaf. Small, isolated brown tips are usually just a sign that the plant needs a bit more moisture.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain consistent soil moisture and use filtered or rainwater to prevent mineral accumulation.

Keep your jungle geranium healthy from here

Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.

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Questions people ask

Should I trim off the brown tips?
Yes, you can trim them off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does tap water hurt my Ixora?
If your tap water is hard or heavily chlorinated, it can cause mineral buildup that leads to brown tips. Using filtered water is a great way to keep the foliage looking its best.

More problems with Jungle Geranium

Back to the Jungle Geranium guide

This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.