Should I trim the brown tips off?

You can trim them for aesthetic reasons using clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Is my plant dying if it has brown tips?

Not necessarily. It is often just a reaction to water quality or fertilizer, which is easily corrected.

King protea: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check the soil surface for white mineral crusts.
Review your recent fertilizing habits.
Test the water you are using for high mineral content.

Likely causes

Fertilizer burn
Most likely
How to tell: The tips turn brown and brittle while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This often happens shortly after feeding.
What to do: Stop all fertilizing immediately. King proteas are adapted to nutrient poor soil and rarely need extra food. If you must fertilize, use a phosphorus free product at half strength.
Hard water
Possible
How to tell: A white crust forms on the soil surface or the rim of the pot. The leaf tips slowly turn brown over several weeks.
What to do: Switch to using rainwater or distilled water for your plant. If you must use tap water, let it sit out for 24 hours to allow chlorine to evaporate.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your king protea

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 usually cosmetic and not life threatening. You should only worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaves.

Stopping it coming back

Avoid using chemical fertilizers and stick to rainwater whenever possible.

King protea: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your king protea 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 off?: You can trim them for aesthetic reasons using clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Is my plant dying if it has brown tips?: Not necessarily. It is often just a reaction to water quality or fertilizer, which is easily corrected.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are the tips of my King protea leaves turning brown?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your king protea?