Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil an inch below the surface.
- Check if the plant is in a very windy or hot location.
- Verify your watering schedule.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry and crumbly to the touch. The leaves may also feel brittle or papery.
What to do: Water deeply until the soil is moist 1 inch down. Stick to a schedule of every 7 to 14 days depending on the heat.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown even though the soil is moist. This happens most often during hot, dry spells.
What to do: Mulch around the base of the plant to help retain soil moisture. If it is in a container, move it to a spot with slightly more shade.
Find out what's wrong with your boston ivy
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 moves from the tips into the leaf veins. A little browning at the very edge is common in late summer.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and keep the root zone cool with a layer of mulch.
Boston ivy: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your boston ivy 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
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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.
- Is it getting too much sun?
- Possibly, if the brown tips are accompanied by bleached patches on the leaves.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Boston ivy
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.