Check these first
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Examine the water you use for high mineral content.
- Ensure the soil is not drying out between waterings.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips of the leaves turn dry and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This happens most often in dry indoor environments.
What to do: Mist the leaves daily or place the plant on a pebble tray filled with water. This increases the ambient humidity around the foliage.
Water Quality
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is kept consistently damp. You may notice white crusty deposits on the soil surface.
What to do: Switch to using filtered or rainwater instead of tap water. This prevents the buildup of salts and chlorine that can burn the leaf tips.
Find out what's wrong with your water forget-me-not
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
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
Minor brown tips are usually just a cosmetic issue. Worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the base of the leaf or affects the entire plant.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant in a humid environment and use filtered water to avoid salt accumulation. Regular misting helps keep the foliage hydrated.
Water forget-me-not: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your water forget-me-not 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?
- You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Is this a sign of disease?
- Usually, brown tips are environmental rather than a disease. If you see white fuzzy growth, that would be powdery mildew, which is a different issue.
More problems with Water forget-me-not
- Why is my water forget-me-not drooping?
- Why are there bugs on my water forget-me-not?
- Why are there white spots on my water forget-me-not?
- Why are my water forget-me-not leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my water forget-me-not looking so leggy?
- Why is my water forget-me-not losing leaves?
- Why is my water forget-me-not not blooming?
- Why are my water forget-me-not leaves curling?
Back to the Water forget-me-not 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.
