Should I trim off the brown tips?

Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.

Does tap water cause brown tips?

Sometimes, if your water is very hard or contains high levels of chlorine. Try using filtered or rainwater if you suspect your tap water is the culprit.

American royal fern: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Touch the top inch of soil to see if it feels dry.
Check the air humidity levels in your room.
Inspect the plant for signs of direct sun exposure.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Most likely
How to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the frond stays green. This happens often in homes with air conditioning or heating.
What to do: Mist the fronds daily with a spray bottle. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water to boost local humidity.
Underwatering
Most likely
How to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the fronds look slightly brittle. Royal ferns need constant moisture to thrive.
What to do: Water your fern every 2 to 4 days so the soil remains consistently damp. Never let the top inch of soil dry out completely.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your american royal fern

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 brown tips are spreading rapidly across the entire frond, the plant is severely stressed. It is normal for the very oldest outer fronds to brown as the plant grows new ones.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the soil consistently moist and maintain high humidity around the plant at all times.

American royal fern: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your american royal fern 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 off the brown tips?: Yes, you can snip them off with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
Does tap water cause brown tips?: Sometimes, if your water is very hard or contains high levels of chlorine. Try using filtered or rainwater if you suspect your tap water is the culprit.

Guides to these causes

Dehydration

Why are my American royal fern's frond tips turning brown?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your american royal fern?