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Brown leaf tips on Chinese evergreen: causes and fixes

Brown, crispy tips on Chinese evergreen usually come from dry air, uneven watering, or mineral buildup. Check the causes below to find which one fits.

Most likely cause

Dry air (low humidity). Raise humidity: group plants together, sit the pot on a tray of damp pebbles, or run a humidifier. Misting helps only briefly.

Describe what is visible before choosing a cause

  1. 01Yellowing leaves
  2. 02Mushy stems
  3. 03Root rot
  4. 04Black stem base
  5. 05Drooping leaves
  6. 06Crispy leaf edges

What’s causing it

How to tell

Dry air (low humidity). Just the very tips and edges go brown and papery while the rest of the leaf is fine. This is most common in winter with the heating on, and Chinese evergreen prefers 50–70 % humidity.

Inconsistent or under-watering. The soil dries out hard between waterings, so the tips (the last to get water) crisp first.

Tap-water salts (fluoride/chlorine). Sensitive plants (calatheas, dracaenas, spider plants, prayer plants) brown at the tips from minerals in tap water.

Fertilizer burn. Brown tips appear with a white crust on the surface, usually after feeding too often or too strong.

Too much direct sun. Dry brown patches or scorched edges show up where strong sun hits the leaf. Chinese evergreen does better out of harsh midday sun.

The fix

Dry air (low humidity). Raise humidity: group plants together, sit the pot on a tray of damp pebbles, or run a humidifier. Misting helps only briefly.

Inconsistent or under-watering. Water more evenly: check the soil regularly and don’t let it go completely bone dry, then soak thoroughly.

Tap-water salts (fluoride/chlorine). Switch to filtered, distilled, or rainwater, and flush the pot occasionally to wash out built-up salts.

Fertilizer burn. Flush thoroughly with plain water and feed less often, always diluted.

Too much direct sun. Move it back from the glass, or filter the strongest sun with a sheer curtain.

WateringSoil

Prevention

Keep humidity up for thirsty tropicals, water before the soil goes bone dry, use filtered or rainwater if your plant is sensitive, and feed lightly.

More for your Chinese evergreen

All Chinese evergreen guides

Related plants

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Last reviewed: 2026-09-01