Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture level by pressing a finger into the top inch.
- Inspect the saucer to see if it has run dry.
- Feel the air around the plant to see if it feels very dry.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the stems look slightly shriveled.
What to do: Keep the soil consistently saturated at all times. Place the pot in a saucer filled with 1 to 2 inches of water to ensure it stays wet.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The soil is wet, but the tips are still crisp and brown.
What to do: Mist the stems daily or place a humidifier nearby. Grouping your Hard rush with other moisture loving plants can also help create a better microclimate.
Find out what's wrong with your hard 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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
If the browning moves down the entire stem, the plant is likely suffering from severe dehydration.
Stopping it coming back
Always keep the pot sitting in a shallow tray of water to mimic its natural boggy habitat.
Hard rush: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your hard 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 trim the brown tips with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. It will not hurt the plant.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once the tissue has turned brown and crispy, it will not recover its color. Focus on keeping new growth healthy.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Hard rush
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.