Should I cut off the brown tips?

You can trim them off for aesthetic reasons, but use clean scissors and avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue. Leaving a tiny sliver of brown is better than creating a new wound.

Is my tap water hurting my plant?

If your water is heavily treated with chlorine or has high mineral content, it can cause tip burn over time. Using filtered water is a simple way to rule this out.

Pittosporum: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if the air near the plant is very dry.
Examine the leaf tips to see if they are crispy or soft.
Consider the type of water you are using.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Possible
How to tell: The leaf tips become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf looks fine. This often happens in winter when indoor heating dries out the air.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a microclimate or place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. Avoid placing the plant directly in front of a heater or air conditioning vent.
Mineral Buildup
Possible
How to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle even though the soil moisture is consistent. This is often caused by salts or chlorine in tap water.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away accumulated salts. Switch to using rainwater or filtered water for your regular watering routine.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your pittosporum

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

A few brown tips are usually just a reaction to the environment and not a sign of a dying plant. If the browning starts spreading to the middle of the leaves, you should investigate further.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the plant away from drafts and use filtered water to prevent salt buildup. Maintaining consistent moisture levels helps keep the foliage healthy.

Pittosporum: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pittosporum 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.

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Questions people ask

Should I cut off the brown tips?: You can trim them off for aesthetic reasons, but use clean scissors and avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue. Leaving a tiny sliver of brown is better than creating a new wound.
Is my tap water hurting my plant?: If your water is heavily treated with chlorine or has high mineral content, it can cause tip burn over time. Using filtered water is a simple way to rule this out.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are the tips of my Pittosporum leaves turning brown?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your pittosporum?