A common cause
Overwatering & root rot
How to tell
- Tips and edges turn brown and soft rather than dry and papery, and the soil stays damp for days.
- Damaged roots can’t supply the leaf tips.
The fix
- 1
Let the soil dry out and water again only once the top 4 cm (1.6 in) of soil feel dry.
- 2
If the base is soft or the roots are brown and mushy, unpot it, trim the soft roots, and repot in fresh, fast-draining mix.
Other possible causes
Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.
Tap-water minerals and salts (a smaller factor here)
Hoya mathilde tolerates tap-water minerals better than more sensitive foliage plants (calatheas, prayer plants), so this is rarely the main cause.
How to tell
- Salts can still build up in a mix that’s never flushed, though.
The fix
- 1
If tips keep browning despite correct watering, flush the mix thoroughly with plain water every few months to clear any accumulated salts.
Fertilizer burn (easy to cause on this plant)
Tips brown within a week or two of a feed.
How to tell
- Hoya mathilde needs so little feeding that a normal houseplant dose is often already too strong for it.
The fix
- 1
Flush thoroughly with plain water, then feed at half the recommended strength and about every 14 days while it’s actively growing.
Occasional dry spells (a minor factor here)
Because Hoya mathilde goes long stretches between waterings by design, the very oldest leaf tips can dry and brown even with correct care.
The fix
- 1
Water according to moisture, only when the top 4 cm (1.6 in) of soil feel dry.
- 2
Check drainage and do not add water just because a tip is brown or a calendar says it is time.
More about this
This is a much smaller factor than on thirstier plants and rarely the main cause.
Dry air (low humidity)
Just the very tips and edges go brown and papery while the rest of the leaf is fine.
The fix
- 1
Raise humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier nearby.
- 2
Skip misting directly on the leaves, which can encourage rot on this plant.
More about this
This is most common in winter with the heating on, and Hoya mathilde prefers 50–70% humidity.
Too much direct sun
Dry brown patches or scorched edges show up where strong sun hits the leaf.
How to tell
- Hoya mathilde wants bright light and some direct sun.
The fix
- 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.
Last reviewed:
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