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

01Yellowing lower leaves
02Soft mushy stem
03Root rot
04Foul-smelling soil
05Crispy leaf edges
06Browning leaf tips

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 Pleomele prefers 40–60 % humidity.

Tap-water salts (fluoride/chlorine). Pleomele is one of the more sensitive houseplants to minerals in tap water, so tips brown even with otherwise good care.

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

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. Pleomele 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.

Tap-water salts (fluoride/chlorine). Switch to filtered, distilled, or rainwater (it makes a real difference on this plant) and flush the pot occasionally to wash out built-up salts.

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

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.