Crispy Leaf Tips? Here’s What Your Plants Are Telling You
This morning, while tending to my plants I noticed a few of them looked a little off, those dreaded crispy brown tips had started to appear. It’s something I’ve seen before, and every time it happens, it feels like a gentle reminder from my plants. So I paused, took a closer look, made a few tweaks to their care, and thought I’d share what I learned. If you’re seeing the same thing, here’s what those crispy tips might be trying to tell you.
Water quality matters more than you think
One of the first things I noticed was how some of my more sensitive plants reacted to tap water. The tips would brown, and I couldn’t figure out why. Turns out the chlorine, fluoride, and salts in our tap water are good for us, but not so good for the plants. This is because these chemicals can accumulate in the soil over time, disrupting nutrient absorption and irritating delicate root systems, especially in tropical species. So, I’ve switched to filtered water, and it’s made a huge difference. When filtered water is not available though, let tap water sit out overnight to let the chlorine evaporate.
You could also try making your own distilled water or collecting rainwater for your indoor plants.
Too little humidity?
Living in Auckland, the air doesn’t get overly dry in thanks to our sub-tropical climate. But I’ve still noticed that some of my tropical plants, like my peace lily, perk up when they’re in more humid spots. So, what’s worked for me?
I’ve moved my peace lily into the bathroom, and it’s loving the extra humidity from showers.
I have grouped similar plants together helps create a little humidity bubble.
For my maranta I use a pebble tray to help with humidity levels. This allows the water to slowly evaporate around the plant, creating a gentle moisture bubble in the surrounding air
Even in a relatively humid city, microclimates inside your home can vary, so it’s worth experimenting with placement.
Light & heat stress
Even sun-loving plants can get scorched if the light is too intense. I once placed a succulent right by a sunny window, thinking it would thrive. Instead, it got sunburned… I’ve learned to use sheer curtains to diffuse harsh sunlight, plus they look great!
Placing your plant a little further from the window or behind a sheer curtain helps soften harsh sunlight and prevent leaf scorch.
Root health & pot size
My anthurium recently started looking a bit off, droopy leaves, crispy tips, and just generally unhappy. I suspected it might be time for a change, so I gently lifted it out of its pot and sure enough, the roots were tightly circling the bottom. It was clearly overdue for a repot. What can you do?
Check for signs that roots are outgrowing their space, like circling or poking through drainage holes.
Use clear inner pots for your plants, which makes it so much easier to monitor root growth and soil moisture.
When it’s time to repot, choose a slightly larger pot (2.5 to 5 cm) in diameter bigger than the current pot. Make sure the pot has good drainage and fresh, well-aerated soil. This gives the roots room to grow without overwhelming them with too much soil, which can lead to overwatering and root rot.
Keeping an eye on what’s happening below the surface has made a big difference in how my plants thrive.
Final thoughts
Crispy leaf tips aren’t a death sentence. They’re just a gentle nudge to tweak your care routine. With a few adjustments, I’ve seen my plants bounce back beautifully.
