Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the soil to see if it is dry.
- Check if the plant is sitting in a tray of water.
- Look for heat sources nearby.
Likely causes
Drying soil
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the tips of the leaves are crispy.
What to do: Water the plant immediately until the soil is saturated. Keep the pot sitting in a shallow tray of water to ensure the soil stays constantly moist.
Low humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is in a very dry room or near a heater, causing the leaf edges to brown.
What to do: Move the plant to a more humid area like a bathroom or near a water feature. You can also mist the foliage daily to increase the local humidity.
Find out what's wrong with your hemlock water dropwort
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.
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When to worry
Worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the base of the leaves. A single old leaf turning brown at the tip is normal as the plant grows.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule so the soil never fully dries out.
Hemlock water dropwort: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your hemlock water dropwort 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 cut off the brown tips?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water cause brown tips?
- Sometimes minerals in tap water can build up in the soil. If you suspect this, try using rainwater or distilled water for a few weeks.
More problems with Hemlock water dropwort
Back to the Hemlock water dropwort 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.