Check these first
- Check the humidity levels in your room.
- Look at your recent fertilizing schedule.
- Observe if the brown areas are spreading to the leaf veins.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The tips of the leaves turn brown and brittle while the rest of the leaf looks healthy. This often happens in dry indoor environments.
What to do: Group your plants together to create a more humid microclimate. You can also place a tray of water and pebbles near the base of the plant.
Fertilizer Burn
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear shortly after you have applied fertilizer. The edges of the leaves may also look scorched.
What to do: Flush the soil with plain water to wash out excess salts. Reduce your fertilizer strength by half for the next few feedings.
Find out what's wrong with your wingstem
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
Worry if the brown patches start moving inward toward the center of the leaf. Minor browning on the very tips is usually just a reaction to environmental changes.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant away from direct air vents or heaters that dry out the air. Use filtered water if your tap water is heavily treated.
Wingstem: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wingstem 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
- Will the brown tips turn green again?
- No, the brown parts are dead tissue and will not recover. You can trim the brown tips off with scissors for a cleaner look.
- Does Wingstem need misting?
- Misting provides only temporary humidity. It is better to use a humidifier or a pebble tray for consistent results.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Wingstem
- Why is my Wingstem drooping?
- Why does my Wingstem have spots on its leaves?
- Why is my Wingstem growing so leggy?
- Why are my Wingstem's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Wingstem dropping its leaves?
- Why is my Wingstem not blooming?
- What are these bugs on my Wingstem?
- Why is my Wingstem wilting?
- Why are my Wingstem's leaves curling?
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.
