Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the air around the plant feels very dry.
- Examine the soil for a white crusty residue on the surface.
- Feel the brown tips to see if they are dry and brittle.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green. This often happens in dry indoor air.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a more humid microclimate. You can also place a tray of water and pebbles near the plant to increase local moisture.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is moist. This is often caused by salts or minerals in tap water accumulating in the leaf tips.
What to do: Flush the soil with distilled or filtered water to wash out excess salts. Use rainwater or filtered water for future waterings to prevent the buildup from returning.
Find out what's wrong with your self-heal
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
It is normal for the very tips to brown slightly if the air is dry. Worry if the brown patches start spreading inward toward the center of the leaf.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant away from heating vents or drafty windows. Use filtered water if your tap water is very hard.
Keep your self-heal healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, the brown parts are dead tissue and will not turn green again. You can trim them off for a cleaner look.
- Does self-heal flower?
- Yes, it produces lovely purple flowers. It needs consistent moisture and good light to bloom well in home gardens.
More problems with Self-heal
- Why is my Self-heal drooping?
- Why are there white spots on my Self-heal?
- Why is my Self-heal looking leggy?
- Why is my Prunella vulgaris rotting at the roots?
- Why are my self-heal leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Prunella vulgaris not blooming?
- Are there bugs on my Prunella vulgaris?
- Why are the leaves on my Prunella vulgaris curling?
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.