Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Look for white crust on the soil surface.
- Ensure the plant is not near an air conditioning vent.
Likely causes
Low humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green.
What to do: Place the plant on a pebble tray filled with water or use a humidifier nearby. Grouping it with other plants can also help create a more humid microclimate.
Salt buildup
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when humidity is high, often accompanied by a white crust on the soil surface.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled water to wash away accumulated salts. Avoid using heavy amounts of fertilizer.
Find out what's wrong with your hot lips
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
Brown tips are rarely fatal, but they indicate the plant is stressed. If the browning spreads to the whole leaf, it is a more serious issue.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant away from direct airflow and maintain consistent humidity levels.
Hot lips: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your hot lips 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
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- You can trim the brown parts with sharp scissors, but try not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does my plant need a pebble tray?
- If your home is very dry, a pebble tray is a great way to boost local humidity for your Hot lips plant.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Hot lips
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.