Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the soil surface to check for dryness.
- Inspect the pot for proper drainage holes.
- Check the location for proximity to heat vents.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the tips of the foliage are crisp and brittle.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Keep the soil consistently damp by checking it every 2 to 5 days.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The soil is damp but the tips are still browning in a dry indoor environment.
What to do: Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase local humidity. Mist the foliage lightly every few days.
Find out what's wrong with your heath 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
If the browning spreads rapidly down the stems, the plant is severely stressed. Minor tip browning is common if you miss a single watering.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil constantly damp and avoid letting the top inch dry out completely.
Heath rush: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your heath 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 them with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. Just cut slightly above the healthy green tissue.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once the tissue has turned brown and crispy, it will not recover. Focus on preventing new growth from browning.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Heath 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.