Should I trim the brown tips?

You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue to prevent further stress.

Does this plant flower?

Creeping Charlie can produce tiny, inconspicuous flowers, but it is primarily grown for its foliage. It needs bright, indirect light to bloom, though it is not guaranteed indoors.

Creeping Charlie: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if the plant is near a heater or air vent.
Feel the leaf tips to see if they are crispy.
Observe if the brown edges are spreading.

Likely causes

Low humidity
Possible
How to tell: The tips of the leaves turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf stays green.
What to do: Place the plant on a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase local humidity. You can also group it with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.
Mineral buildup
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is moist and the air is humid.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash out excess salts. Use filtered water for future waterings to prevent the buildup from returning.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your creeping charlie

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

Brown tips are rarely fatal but indicate the plant is unhappy with its environment. Worry if the brown patches start moving toward the center of the leaves.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the plant away from direct airflow and use filtered water if your tap water is heavily treated.

Creeping Charlie: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your creeping charlie 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 the brown tips?: You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue to prevent further stress.
Does this plant flower?: Creeping Charlie can produce tiny, inconspicuous flowers, but it is primarily grown for its foliage. It needs bright, indirect light to bloom, though it is not guaranteed indoors.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Creeping Charlie's leaf tips turning brown?