Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the soil to see if it is dry.
- Check if the plant is sitting near a heater or air vent.
- Inspect the drainage tray for standing water.
Likely causes
Inconsistent watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the tips of the stems are crispy and brown.
What to do: Keep the soil consistently wet at all times. Water every 1 to 3 days to ensure the potting mix never dries out completely.
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is in a very dry room or near a heater, causing the tips to brown despite moist soil.
What to do: Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase local humidity. Mist the stems daily if your home air is particularly dry.
Find out what's wrong with your jointleaf rush
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
It is normal for the very oldest stems to brown slightly as they age. Worry if the browning is spreading rapidly across new growth.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a strict watering schedule so the soil stays waterlogged or consistently damp.
Jointleaf rush: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your jointleaf rush 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
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. It will not hurt the plant.
- Can I let the soil dry out a little?
- No, this plant is a bog species and needs to stay wet. Letting it dry out will almost always lead to browning.
More problems with jointleaf rush
Back to the jointleaf rush 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.