Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Consider if you are using tap water with high mineral content.
- Examine the soil to see if there is a white crust on the surface.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens during winter when indoor heating dries out the air.
What to do: Group your Pilea with other plants to create a microclimate or place it near a humidifier. Avoid misting the leaves as it does not provide lasting humidity.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil moisture is consistent. This is often caused by salts or chlorine found in tap water.
What to do: Switch to filtered or distilled water for a few weeks to see if the browning stops. You can also flush the soil with plenty of water to wash out excess salts.
Find out what's wrong with your chinese money plant
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 and are mostly a cosmetic issue. Worry only if the brown patches start spreading rapidly toward the center of the leaves.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered water and keep the plant away from direct heat sources that dry out the air.
Chinese Money Plant: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your chinese money plant 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 parts with clean scissors, but try to leave a tiny sliver of brown so you do not cut into healthy green tissue.
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, once the tissue has turned brown and crispy, it will not recover. Focus on preventing new growth from developing the same issue.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Chinese Money Plant
- Why is my Chinese Money Plant rotting at the base?
- Why is my Chinese Money Plant dropping its leaves?
- Why is my Chinese Money Plant growing so tall and leggy?
- Why are my Pilea's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Pilea drooping?
- Why are there spots on my Pilea leaves?
- Are there bugs on my Pilea?
- Why are my Pilea leaves curling?
Back to the Chinese Money Plant 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.