Should I trim off the brown tips?

You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Does this mean my plant is dying?

Not at all. Brown tips are usually just a minor stress signal that you can easily fix with small adjustments.

Ceylon spinach: brown tips, causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if the soil has been drying out completely between waterings.
Look for a white crust on the surface of the soil.
Feel if the brown tips are crispy or soft.

Likely causes

Low humidity
Possible
How to tell: The tips of the leaves become crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. This often happens in dry indoor air or near heating vents.
What to do: Move your plant away from direct drafts or heaters. You can place a tray of pebbles and water near the plant to increase the local humidity.
Salt buildup
Possible
How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil is moist, sometimes accompanied by a white crust on the soil surface. This is caused by mineral accumulation from tap water.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of filtered or distilled water to wash away excess salts. In the future, try to use rainwater or let your tap water sit out overnight before using it.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your ceylon spinach

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

It is only a concern if the browning spreads rapidly across the leaves. A few tiny brown tips are normal as leaves age.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid letting the plant sit in very dry, hot air. Using filtered water can also help prevent mineral buildup.

Ceylon spinach: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your ceylon spinach 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.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Should I trim off the brown tips?: You can trim them with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does this mean my plant is dying?: Not at all. Brown tips are usually just a minor stress signal that you can easily fix with small adjustments.

Guides to these causes

Salt Stress

Why are my Ceylon spinach leaf tips turning brown?