Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the soil moisture level with your finger.
- Ensure the plant is not sitting directly in a hot draft.
- Look for salt buildup on the surface of the soil.
Likely causes
Inconsistent Watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil is bone dry and the tips of the leaves have turned crispy and brown.
What to do: Water your parsley deeply until water runs out of the drainage holes. Aim to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown even though the soil is moist.
What to do: Mist the leaves occasionally or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. This increases the humidity around the foliage.
Find out what's wrong with your parsley
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
Brown tips are a cosmetic issue and rarely kill the plant. If the browning spreads to the whole leaf, the plant is likely suffering from severe dehydration.
Stopping it coming back
Water regularly and keep the plant away from heating vents or dry air sources.
Parsley: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your parsley 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 trim the brown tips off?
- You can trim the brown tips for aesthetic reasons. Use clean scissors to snip off the dead tissue without cutting into the healthy green part.
- Is tap water causing the brown tips?
- Sometimes, high chlorine or mineral levels in tap water can cause tip burn. If you suspect this, try using filtered or rainwater for a few weeks.
More problems with Parsley
- Why are my parsley leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my parsley plant looking so leggy?
- Why is my parsley plant drooping?
- Why are there spots on my parsley leaves?
- What is eating my parsley leaves?
- Why is my parsley plant wilting and smelling bad?
- Why are my parsley leaves falling off?
- Why are my parsley leaves curling up?
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.