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Brown leaf tips on Philodendron Birkin: causes and fixes

Philodendron 'Birkin'

Quick answer

Brown, crispy tips on your Philodendron Birkin have a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is dry air. The full list is below.

Philodendron Birkin (Philodendron 'Birkin')
Philodendron Birkin · Philodendron 'Birkin'
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Toxic to pets

Most likely cause

Dry air (low humidity)

Illustration of a leaf with a dry brown tip and a white salt crust on the pot rim

How to tell

  • Just the very tips and edges go brown and papery while the rest of the leaf is fine.

The fix

  1. 1
    Raise humidity: group plants together, sit the pot on a tray of damp pebbles, or run a humidifier.
  2. 2
    Misting helps only briefly.
More about this

This is most common in winter with the heating on, and Philodendron Birkin prefers 50–70% humidity.

Other possible causes

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

Inconsistent or under-watering

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.

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.
More about this

It does not identify fluoride injury.

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.
More about this

It follows feeding too often or too strong.

Too much direct sun

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

How to tell

  • Philodendron Birkin wants bright, indirect light.

The fix

  1. 1
    Move it back from the glass, or filter the strongest sun with a sheer curtain.

All Philodendron Birkin guides

Keep reading

Related plants

Same genus or the same care pattern.

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