Brown, crispy tips on Moth orchid have a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is dry air. The full list is below.
Dry air (low humidity). Raise humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier nearby. Skip misting directly on the leaves, which can encourage rot on this plant.
How to tell
The bark mix dries out hard between waterings, so the tips (the last to get water) crisp first.
The fix
Water more evenly: check the bark mix regularly and don’t let it go completely bone dry, then soak thoroughly.
How to tell
A white crust shows on the soil surface or the pot rim, and the tips brown despite even watering.
The fix
Switch to filtered, distilled, or rainwater, and flush the pot occasionally to wash out built-up salts.
How to tell
Brown tips appear with a white crust on the surface, usually after feeding too often or too strong.
The fix
Flush thoroughly with plain water and feed less often, always diluted.
How to tell
Dry brown patches or scorched edges show up where strong sun hits the leaf. Moth orchid wants medium, indirect light.
The fix
Move it back from the glass, or filter the strongest sun with a sheer curtain.
Keep humidity up with a pebble tray or humidifier rather than misting the leaves, water before the mix goes bone dry, and feed lightly.
Same genus or the same care pattern.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-19
