Why your African violet has brown tips or spots
Good news — brown tips on a African violet are cosmetic more than catastrophic. They usually mean cold water on the leaves, low humidity, or too much direct sun. The plant's fine; it's telling you something in its environment is off.
Not sure? Ask Thumbs about your African Violet brown tips & spots →
Thumbs talks you through it, one question at a time. Free during early access.
Why are the tips of my African violet turning brown?
Brown, crispy tips almost always come from cold water on the leaves, low humidity, or too much direct sun. The leaf edges are the first to show stress because they're the farthest from the roots.
Should I cut the brown tips off?
You can trim the brown parts off to tidy it up — follow the natural shape of the leaf so it doesn't look hacked. But fixing the cause matters more than the trim, or new tips will just brown again.
How do I stop my African violet getting brown tips?
Address cold water on the leaves, low humidity, or too much direct sun. Consistent watering, the right humidity, and flushing the soil occasionally to wash out built-up salts will keep the tips green.
Not sure? Ask Thumbs about your African Violet brown tips & spots →
Thumbs talks you through it, one question at a time. Free during early access.