Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Test the water you use for high mineral content.
- Check the soil moisture two inches down.
- Inspect the drainage holes for blockages.
Likely causes
Mineral buildup
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This often happens if you use hard tap water.
What to do: Switch to using rainwater or distilled water for your plant. Flush the soil thoroughly with clean water once a month to wash away accumulated salts.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves feel dry and brittle, and the soil has pulled away from the edges of the pot. The plant may look slightly wilted overall.
What to do: Increase your watering frequency slightly to every 7 to 10 days. Ensure the water drains completely and never let the pot sit in a saucer of water.
Find out what's wrong with your pincushion protea
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
Worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the stem. A few brown tips on older, lower leaves are normal as the plant ages.
Stopping it coming back
Use only rainwater or filtered water and ensure your potting mix is extremely well draining.
Pincushion Protea: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pincushion protea 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
- Can I use tap water?
- It is best to avoid it if your water is hard or treated with high levels of chlorine. Rainwater is the gold standard for Proteas.
- Should I trim the brown tips?
- You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetics. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue to prevent further stress.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Pincushion Protea
- Why is my Pincushion Protea showing signs of root rot?
- Why is my Pincushion Protea not producing flowers?
- Why are my Pincushion Protea leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Pincushion Protea looking leggy?
- Why is my Pincushion Protea drooping?
- Why is my Pincushion Protea dropping leaves?
- Why does my Pincushion Protea have spots on its leaves?
Back to the Pincushion Protea 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.