Will the brown tips turn green again?

No, the brown tissue is dead and will not recover. You can trim the brown parts off for aesthetics, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Does tap water cause this?

It can, especially if your tap water has high chlorine or fluoride content. Try using rainwater or distilled water for a few weeks to see if it helps.

Java plum: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Feel the leaf tips to see if they are dry and brittle.
Check if you have recently fertilized the plant.
Measure the humidity levels in your room.

Likely causes

Low Humidity
Most likely
How to tell: The tips of the leaves become dry, crispy, and brown while the rest of the leaf looks healthy.
What to do: Mist the leaves with water daily or place a humidifier nearby. You can also group your plant with others to create a more humid microclimate.
Fertilizer Burn
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear shortly after you have applied fertilizer, often accompanied by white crust on the soil surface.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of distilled water to wash out excess salts. Avoid fertilizing for at least 2 months to let the roots recover.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your java plum

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

Worry if the brown patches start moving inward toward the center of the leaf. Minor tip browning is often just a reaction to dry indoor air.

Stopping it coming back

Use filtered or rainwater to avoid mineral buildup and keep the plant in a spot with good air circulation.

Java plum: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your java plum 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

Will the brown tips turn green again?: No, the brown tissue is dead and will not recover. You can trim the brown parts off for aesthetics, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does tap water cause this?: It can, especially if your tap water has high chlorine or fluoride content. Try using rainwater or distilled water for a few weeks to see if it helps.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Java plum's leaf tips turning brown?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your java plum?