Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Examine the soil surface for white mineral deposits.
- Consider the type of water you are using.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves turn dry and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens in dry indoor air.
What to do: Increase the humidity around your plant by using a pebble tray or a humidifier. You can also group plants together to create a more humid microclimate.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The brown tips appear gradually and the soil surface may have a white, crusty residue. This is often caused by using hard tap water.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash away excess salts. Switch to using rainwater or filtered water for future waterings.
Find out what's wrong with your heath milkwort
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 usually a cosmetic issue rather than a sign of a dying plant. It is normal for very old leaves to develop small brown edges as they age.
Stopping it coming back
Use filtered water and keep the humidity consistent to prevent leaf tip damage.
Heath Milkwort: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your heath milkwort 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?
- You can trim them for aesthetic reasons, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue. Use clean, sharp scissors.
- Is my plant sick?
- Usually, brown tips are just a sign of environmental stress. Your plant is likely fine if the rest of the foliage looks healthy.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Heath Milkwort
Back to the Heath Milkwort 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.