Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the top inch of soil to see if it is dry.
- Check if the plant is sitting near a heater or air vent.
- Inspect the leaves for signs of crispy edges.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green. This often happens in homes with forced air heating.
What to do: Place your plant on a tray filled with pebbles and water to boost local humidity. Mist the foliage lightly every morning to keep the air around the plant moist.
Underwatering
PossibleHow to tell: The soil feels bone dry and the stems may start to lean. The brown tips will appear on the oldest leaves first.
What to do: Water your plant thoroughly until liquid runs out of the drainage holes. Maintain a schedule of watering every 3 to 7 days to keep the soil evenly moist.
Find out what's wrong with your fairy flax
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 brown area spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaf. A few tiny brown tips are normal as the plant ages.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid placing the plant in direct drafts.
Fairy flax: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your fairy flax 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 improve the look of the plant. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does fairy flax need high humidity?
- It prefers moderate to high humidity. Keeping it away from dry indoor heat sources will help prevent tip burn.
Guides to these causes
More problems with fairy flax
- Why are there spots on my fairy flax leaves?
- Why is my fairy flax drooping?
- Why is my fairy flax wilting and showing root rot?
- Why is my fairy flax growing tall and leggy?
- Why is my fairy flax not flowering?
- Why are my fairy flax leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my fairy flax dropping leaves?
- How do I get rid of pests on my fairy flax?
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.