Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the air in your home feels very dry.
- Look for white crust on the soil surface.
- Verify if you are using tap water with high mineral content.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown. This often happens during winter when indoor heating dries out the air.
What to do: Place the plant on a pebble tray filled with water or use a humidifier nearby. Mist the leaves occasionally to increase the ambient moisture.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The brown tips appear gradually and the soil surface may have a white, crusty layer. This is caused by salts in tap water.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash out excess salts. Consider switching to filtered water for future waterings.
Find out what's wrong with your swedish ivy
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 rarely fatal but indicate the plant is not perfectly happy. It is only a major concern if the browning spreads to the rest of the leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Keep humidity levels moderate and flush the soil with clean water every few months.
Swedish Ivy: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your swedish ivy 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
- Can I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Try to follow the natural shape of the leaf for a tidy look.
- Is my plant dying if it has brown tips?
- Not at all, it is usually just a sign that the environment is a bit too dry. The plant will continue to grow fine with a few adjustments.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Swedish Ivy
- Why are there white cottony spots on my Swedish Ivy?
- Why does my Swedish Ivy look wilted and mushy?
- Why is my Swedish Ivy getting so long and sparse?
- Why are my Swedish Ivy's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Swedish Ivy drooping?
- Why is my Swedish Ivy losing leaves?
- What are these spots on my Swedish Ivy leaves?
- Why are my Swedish Ivy leaves curling?
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.