Anthurium plants are popular houseplants, admired for their vibrant, often heart-shaped flowers and glossy leaves. Many owners encounter a common issue: brown leaf tips. This browning indicates the plant’s environmental conditions or care routine may need adjustment. Understanding these reasons is the first step toward restoring the plant’s health.
Why Anthurium Leaf Tips Turn Brown
Anthurium leaf tips often turn brown due to insufficient humidity. These plants originate from tropical rainforests with consistently high moisture. Dry indoor air, especially prevalent during colder months with heating or air conditioning, causes water to evaporate too quickly from leaf surfaces. This rapid moisture loss manifests as dry, crispy browning on the leaf tips and edges.
Improper watering practices, both underwatering and overwatering, contribute significantly to leaf browning. Underwatered anthuriums cannot draw enough moisture to their extremities, leading to dry, brittle, crispy brown tips, often with wilting foliage. Overwatering causes root rot, making roots unable to absorb water and nutrients effectively. This results in soft, mushy brown leaf tips, often accompanied by yellowing leaves or a foul soil odor.
Nutrient balance and water quality issues can also lead to browning. Over-fertilization, or “fertilizer burn,” causes excess salts to accumulate in the soil, drawing moisture from roots and concentrating in leaf tips, leading to a burnt appearance. Tap water with high levels of chlorine, fluoride, or other dissolved minerals can be detrimental, as these chemicals build up in the soil and foliage, resulting in brown tips. Nutrient deficiencies, such as a lack of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium, may also present as browning, often alongside yellowing of the leaves.
Environmental factors like temperature extremes and improper light exposure stress anthuriums, leading to browning. Sudden temperature fluctuations, cold drafts, or temperatures consistently below 60°F (15°C) can cause stress and browning. Direct, intense sunlight, especially from a south-facing window without filtration, can scorch delicate leaves, resulting in brown patches or crispy edges. Anthuriums thrive in bright, indirect light; too much direct exposure causes cellular damage.
Steps to Fix and Prevent Browning
Improving humidity around anthurium is a primary step in preventing brown leaf tips. Use a pebble tray: a shallow tray with pebbles and water, ensuring the pot sits above the water level. As water evaporates, it increases localized humidity.
Grouping anthuriums with other humidity-loving plants creates a beneficial microclimate. For consistent humidity, especially in dry environments, a room humidifier can maintain ideal levels (50-80%). Misting offers a temporary boost but requires careful application to prevent fungal issues.
Adjusting watering practices is crucial for anthurium health. Check soil moisture before watering by inserting a finger an inch or two into the soil; if dry, water. Water thoroughly until drainage, ensuring the root ball is moistened, but avoid standing water to prevent root rot. Watering frequency varies with environmental conditions and may reduce during cooler seasons. Bottom watering, where the pot absorbs water from a tray, is another effective technique.
Addressing nutrient and water quality issues involves careful fertilization and mindful water choices. Fertilize anthuriums with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, diluted to half strength, every two to four weeks during the active growing season. To prevent salt buildup, periodically flush the soil by watering thoroughly until water drains freely. Using filtered, distilled, or rainwater can mitigate issues caused by harsh chemicals like chlorine and fluoride. If filtered water is not accessible, letting tap water sit out for 24 hours allows chlorine to dissipate.
Optimizing the anthurium’s environment helps create stable conditions. Maintain consistent room temperatures between 65°F and 85°F (18°C-29°C), avoiding sudden drops below 60°F (15°C). Position the plant away from drafty windows, exterior doors, or heating and air conditioning vents that cause rapid temperature fluctuations. Provide bright, indirect light, such as near an east or west-facing window, or a few feet away from a south-facing window. Sheer curtains can diffuse intense sunlight, protecting leaves from scorching.
Caring for Browned Leaves
Once an anthurium leaf tip has turned brown, the damaged tissue will not revert to its original green state. The browning is permanent, but affected leaves can be managed to improve the plant’s appearance.
Trimming browned sections can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the plant. Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears for precise cuts. Carefully follow the natural shape of the leaf, trimming just outside the brown area. Some growers leave a tiny margin of brown to avoid cutting into healthy green tissue, which could cause further stress. Removing brown tips does not resolve the underlying cause, so implement preventative measures.