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Brown leaf tips on poinsettia: causes and fixes

Euphorbia pulcherrima

Quick answer

The likeliest cause of brown, crispy tips on your poinsettia is inconsistent or under-watering.

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Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Poinsettia · Euphorbia pulcherrima

Toxic to pets

Most likely cause

Brown leaf tips: inconsistent or under-watering

Illustration of a wilting plant in dry, cracked soil with a watering can beside the pot

How to tell

  • The soil dries out hard between waterings, so the tips (the last to get water) crisp first.

The fix

  1. 1
    Water more evenly: check the soil regularly and don’t let it go completely bone dry, then soak thoroughly.

Other possible causes

Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.

Brown leaf tips: hard-water minerals and accumulated salts

Tips brown slowly over months despite even watering, and a white crust builds up on the soil surface or the pot rim.

How to tell

  • Hard water or fertilizer salts can leave this crust.

The fix

  1. 1
    Switch to rainwater or distilled water, and flush the pot occasionally to wash out built-up salts.

It does not identify fluoride injury.

Brown leaf tips: fertilizer burn

Tips brown within a week or two of feeding, sometimes with a white crust on the soil surface or the pot rim.

The fix

  1. 1
    Flush thoroughly with plain water and feed less often, always diluted.

It follows feeding too often or too strong.

Brown leaf tips: dry heat from a radiator or vent

Tips brown mainly on the side facing a radiator or heater vent.

How to tell

  • Poinsettia does well at 40–60% humidity, so ordinary room air is rarely the cause on its own.

The fix

  1. 1
    Move it away from the heat source.

It doesn’t need misting or a humidity tray.

Brown leaf tips: too much direct sun

Dry brown patches or scorched edges show up where strong sun hits the leaf.

How to tell

  • Poinsettia wants bright light and some direct sun.

The fix

  1. 1
    Filter the harshest midday sun with a sheer curtain for a few weeks, then reintroduce the sunny spot gradually so the leaves can harden off.

All poinsettia guides

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