Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Stick your finger an inch into the soil to check for moisture.
- Check if the pot feels light, indicating the soil is completely dry.
- Observe if the browning is happening on the newest or oldest growth.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips turn crispy and brown while the rest of the blade starts to lose its bright green color. The soil feels dry and pulls away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes. Adjust your schedule to water every 3 to 5 days during hot weather.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips brown slowly even when the soil is moist. This often happens in homes with dry heating or air conditioning.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a microclimate. You can also place a tray of water and pebbles near the base to increase local humidity.
Find out what's wrong with your timothy grass
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
Minor tip browning is normal as leaves age. Worry only if the browning is moving rapidly down the blade toward the base.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering routine and keep the plant away from direct drafts from vents or fans.
Timothy grass: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your timothy grass 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 off?
- Yes, you can trim them for aesthetic reasons. Use clean, sharp scissors and cut just above the healthy green tissue.
- Is my tap water causing this?
- It is possible if your water is very hard or heavily chlorinated. Try using filtered water for a few weeks to see if the new growth improves.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Timothy grass
Back to the Timothy grass 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.