Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is dry.
- Check the soil surface for white mineral crusts.
- Observe the air quality around the plant.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green. This often happens in dry indoor air or during hot summer spells.
What to do: Mist the foliage daily with a spray bottle. You can also place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water to boost local humidity.
Mineral Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil feels moist. You might see a white, crusty residue on the soil surface.
What to do: Flush the soil by running lukewarm distilled or rainwater through the pot for several minutes. Switch to using filtered water for future waterings.
Find out what's wrong with your japanese skimmia
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 leaf center. It is normal to see slight browning on the oldest leaves at the base of the plant.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant in a sheltered, shaded spot and use rainwater whenever possible.
Japanese skimmia: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your japanese skimmia 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?
- Yes, you can trim them with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does tap water hurt my Skimmia?
- If your tap water is hard, it can cause mineral buildup over time. Using rainwater is much better for this acid loving plant.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Japanese skimmia
- Why are my Japanese skimmia leaves turning yellow?
- Why are there pests on my Japanese skimmia?
- Why is my Japanese skimmia losing its leaves?
- Why is my Japanese skimmia drooping?
- Why are there spots on my Skimmia japonica leaves?
- Why is my Skimmia japonica not blooming?
- Why is my Skimmia japonica roots rotting?
- Why is my Skimmia japonica looking leggy?
Back to the Japanese skimmia 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.