Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the top inch of soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Inspect the leaves for any signs of pests like aphids.
- Check if the pot is sitting directly in front of a heat vent.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn crisp and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green. This often happens when the plant is kept near a heater or in a very dry room.
What to do: Move your plant away from direct heat sources like vents or radiators. Mist the surrounding air occasionally or place a pebble tray with water nearby to increase local humidity.
Fertilizer Salt Buildup
PossibleHow to tell: You might see a white crust on the surface of the soil or the rim of the pot. The tips brown because excess minerals are accumulating in the leaf tissue.
What to do: Flush the soil by running lukewarm water through the pot for 2 to 3 minutes. Stop fertilizing for 4 to 6 weeks to let the plant recover from the salt stress.
Find out what's wrong with your horned violet
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
When to worry
Worry if the browning spreads rapidly toward the center of the leaves. It is normal for the oldest bottom leaves to brown and die back as the plant grows.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and avoid over fertilizing during the hottest parts of the summer.
Keep your horned violet 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.
Questions people ask
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim them with clean scissors to improve the look of the plant. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
- Does this mean my plant is dying?
- Not necessarily. Brown tips are usually a sign of environmental stress rather than a terminal disease.
More problems with Horned Violet
- Why are there bugs on my Horned Violet?
- What are these white spots on my Horned Violet?
- Why is my Horned Violet getting so tall and thin?
- Why are my Viola cornuta leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Viola cornuta drooping?
- Why is my Viola cornuta not flowering?
- Why is my Viola cornuta dropping leaves?
- How do I fix root rot in my Viola cornuta?
- Why are my Viola cornuta leaves curling?
Back to the Horned Violet 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.