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Yellow Bells · Tecoma stans

Why are the tips of my Tecoma stans leaves turning brown?

This is less common for this plant, and it usually happens due to inconsistent watering or salt buildup in the soil. Check your soil moisture levels to see if the plant is drying out too much between waterings.

Check these first

  1. Feel the top few inches of the soil.
  2. Check if the pot has drainage holes.
  3. Recall if you recently applied fertilizer.

Likely causes

  1. Inconsistent Watering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The leaf tips turn crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf remains green. The soil feels bone dry and pulls away from the edges of the pot.

    What to do: Water deeply every 7 to 14 days, ensuring the top few inches of soil are dry before you add more. Make sure water drains freely from the bottom of the container.

  2. Fertilizer Burn

    Possible

    How to tell: Brown tips appear shortly after you have applied a heavy dose of fertilizer. The leaves may also show yellowing along the edges.

    What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of plain water to wash out excess salts. Wait at least 4 to 6 weeks before applying any more fertilizer at half the recommended strength.

Find out what's wrong with your yellow bells

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

Minor browning is usually just a sign of environmental stress. If the brown spots are spreading rapidly to the center of the leaves, check your watering habits immediately.

Stopping it coming back

Maintain a steady watering schedule and avoid overfeeding your plant.

Keep your yellow bells 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.

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Questions people ask

Should I cut off the brown tips?
You can trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for aesthetic reasons. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
Does my plant need high humidity?
Yellow Bells is quite tolerant of dry air and does not require extra humidity. Focus on consistent soil moisture instead.

More problems with Yellow Bells

Back to the Yellow Bells guide

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.