Should I trim the brown tips?

You can trim them for looks, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue. Use clean, sharp scissors.

Does fertilizer cause brown tips?

Yes, using too much fertilizer can cause salt buildup that burns the leaf tips. Use a balanced fertilizer at half strength during the growing season.

Common Myrtle: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the humidity levels in the room.
Assess the quality of your water.
Look for heat sources like radiators nearby.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Possible
How to tell: The tips of the leaves turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green.
What to do: Mist the leaves occasionally or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. This helps create a more humid microclimate around the plant.
Mineral Buildup
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear even when you are watering correctly, often due to tap water salts.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away excess salts. Try to use rainwater or filtered water for future waterings.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your common myrtle

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.

When to worry

If the browning spreads to the entire leaf, the plant is struggling significantly. It is normal to see a tiny bit of browning on very old leaves.

Stopping it coming back

Use filtered water and keep the plant away from direct heat sources like vents.

Common Myrtle: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common myrtle 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.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips?: You can trim them for looks, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue. Use clean, sharp scissors.
Does fertilizer cause brown tips?: Yes, using too much fertilizer can cause salt buildup that burns the leaf tips. Use a balanced fertilizer at half strength during the growing season.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Common Myrtle's leaf tips turning brown?