Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Test your tap water for high mineral content.
- Check if the plant is sitting near a heater or air vent.
- Examine the soil for white crusty deposits.
Likely causes
Salt Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown and crispy while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens if you use tap water with high mineral content.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or rainwater to wash away excess salts. Switch to using rainwater or filtered water for future waterings.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips dry out slowly over time, especially during winter when indoor heating is running. The leaves may feel brittle to the touch.
What to do: Move the plant away from direct heat vents or drafts. Proteas prefer good air circulation, so avoid placing them in stagnant, dry corners.
Find out what's wrong with your sugarbush
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
Minor browning on the very tips is often just a reaction to indoor conditions. Worry if the brown patches start moving inward toward the center of the leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Use rainwater or distilled water and keep the plant away from artificial heat sources.
Sugarbush: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your sugarbush 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 them for aesthetic reasons using clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does my Protea need a humidifier?
- Generally no, as Proteas prefer good airflow. Focus on water quality instead.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Sugarbush
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.