Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture with your finger.
- Look for signs of wilting on the leaves.
- Assess the current humidity levels in your room.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels completely dry and the leaves may look slightly wilted or crispy at the edges.
What to do: Water your plant thoroughly until water drains from the bottom of the pot. Aim to water every 3 to 7 days whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle even though the soil is moist.
What to do: Move your plant to a spot with better air circulation. You can also place a tray of pebbles and water near the base to increase local moisture.
Find out what's wrong with your four o'clock flower
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
When to worry
Worry if the browning spreads rapidly to the rest of the leaf. A few crispy tips on older leaves are normal as the plant grows.
Stopping it coming back
Keep a consistent watering schedule and avoid letting the soil dry out completely for extended periods.
Keep your four o'clock flower healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes the minerals in tap water can build up. If you suspect this, try using filtered water for a few weeks.
More problems with Four o'clock flower
- Why are there tiny bugs on my Four o'clock?
- Why are there spots on my Four o'clock leaves?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant drooping?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant getting so leggy?
- Why is my Four o'clock wilting and dying?
- Why are my Four o'clock leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant dropping its leaves?
- Why is my Four o'clock plant not blooming?
- Why are my Four o'clock leaves curling?
Back to the Four o'clock flower guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.