Brown Leaf Tips on Houseplants: Water, Roots, or Drafts?

When leaf tips and edges turn brown—but spots don’t appear—the culprit is almost always a water-uptake issue. Three common causes:

1. Underwatering – Soil too dry.
2. Overwatering – Root rot prevents water absorption.
3. Hot/cold drafts – Furnace vents, doors, or windows desiccate foliage.

Detective Work

• Check soil moisture; water only when the top inch is dry.
• Remove plant from pot: healthy roots are white and firm; rotted roots are brown and mushy.
• Ensure pots don’t sit in saucers of water.
• Move plants away from direct airflow.

Fix the underlying cause, and new growth will be clean. Existing brown tips won’t revert, but you can trim them neatly.