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Lesser spearwort · Ranunculus flammula

Why are my Ranunculus flammula leaves getting brown tips?

It is less common for this plant to have brown tips, which usually happens when the soil dries out too much. Check your soil moisture first to ensure it is still wet to the touch.

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Check these first

  1. Touch the soil to see if it is dry.
  2. Check if the pot has been sitting in water.
  3. Examine the water source for high mineral content.

Likely causes

  1. Drying soil

    Most likely

    How to tell: The soil feels dry or crumbly to the touch, and the tips of the leaves turn crisp and brown.

    What to do: Water your plant immediately until the soil is saturated. Maintain a consistent schedule where the soil stays wet or waterlogged at all times.

  2. Mineral buildup

    Possible

    How to tell: The tips turn brown even though the soil is kept moist, often due to high salt content in tap water.

    What to do: Flush the pot with distilled water or rainwater to wash away excess salts. Switch to using rainwater for future waterings.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your lesser spearwort

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

Worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaves. It is normal for the oldest bottom leaves to brown as the plant grows.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the plant in a tray of water to ensure the soil never dries out.

Lesser spearwort: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your lesser spearwort 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.

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Questions people ask

Should I trim the brown tips off?
Yes, you can trim the brown tips with clean scissors to keep the plant looking tidy. Just avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
Can I use tap water?
You can, but if your water is very hard, it may cause mineral buildup. Rainwater is the best choice for this moisture loving plant.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Lesser spearwort

Back to the Lesser spearwort 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.