Plant care guide
Peace Lily Brown Tips: Salts, Dry Spells or Dry Air?
Updated · First published
Why does my Peace lily have brown tips?
Brown tips on a peace lily usually come from fertilizer salt build-up, mix allowed to dry out too far, a root-bound pot, or dry indoor air. Water chemistry can add to the problem.
What to do first
Check the mix and recent feeding first. Flush the pot with plenty of water if you have been fertilizing, water before the plant wilts, repot a root-bound plant, and keep it away from vents and direct sun.
Brown, crispy tips on a peace lily are frustrating because they don’t go away. The browned tissue is dead, but the cause can usually be found and fixed so new leaves stay clean. Iowa State University Extension’s FAQ on brown leaf tips and edges names four main causes for houseplants: low humidity, inconsistent watering, too much fertilizer, and water quality.
For peace lilies, extension guidance points first at fertilizer salts and watering. Work through the checks in order.
Check 1: Fertilizer and salt build-up
NC State Extension warns that over-fertilizing and salt build-up can burn peace lily leaf tips and roots. Clemson Cooperative Extension’s peace lily fact sheet also says overfertilizing turns leaf tips and roots brown.
Signs this is the cause:
- Browning started after a period of regular feeding.
- A white, crusty residue on the mix surface or pot rim. University of Maryland Extension’s guide to nonliving indoor plant problems describes salt deposits as white crystallized residue on the potting medium.
- Tips and margins browning on several leaves at once. Maryland Extension links excess fertilizer to browning or dieback of leaf tips and margins.
What to do:
- Stop fertilizing.
- Flush the pot. Run plenty of plain water through the mix and let it drain completely. NC State recommends flushing the soil between fertilizer applications.
- When you resume, follow the label at reduced strength. NC State recommends one-quarter of the recommended strength. Clemson suggests a balanced liquid fertilizer such as 20-20-20 every six to eight weeks in spring and summer, at one-quarter strength.
Check 2: Watering gaps
Iowa State notes that letting plants dry out too long between waterings turns leaf edges and tips brown. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s watering guide lists brown tips or edges, dry or brittle leaves, and mix shrinking from the pot edge among signs of underwatering. Clemson notes that a peace lily wilts when its mix dries excessively.
If your peace lily regularly wilts before you water it, this is a strong candidate.
What to do:
- Check the mix with a finger. Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests going 2.5–7.5 cm (1–3 in) deep, depending on pot size.
- Follow Clemson’s guidance: keep the mix moist but not soggy, and let it dry only slightly between waterings.
- Water until the whole root ball is wet. If dry mix sheds water, give two or three slow applications, as the Virginia guide recommends.
- Do not swing the other way into soggy mix. Clemson warns that sitting in excess water leads to root rot.
Check 3: A root-bound pot
Maryland Extension notes that pot-bound plants typically become too dry and show brown or dead leaf tips. If the pot dries out within a day or two of watering, slide the plant out and look for circling roots.
Clemson suggests repotting when roots grow through the drainage holes or circle on top of the mix, into a pot 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) larger. NC State recommends repotting, when necessary, in February or March, and keeping the plant somewhat pot-bound.
Check 4: Dry air, vents, and sun
Iowa State calls low humidity the most likely cause of brown tips on houseplants. It suggests a humidifier, pebble trays, or grouping plants together.
Clemson advises keeping peace lilies away from heating and cooling vents. It also warns that direct sun scorches the foliage. NC State says not to place peace lilies in direct sun. Maryland Extension notes that strong sun and heat cause pale, bleached, or faded areas, which differ from neat brown tips.
Check 5: Water quality
Iowa State notes that too much chlorine and other chemicals in water, such as fluoride, can cause brown tips. It lists spider plant, ti plant, dracaena, prayer plant, and calathea as especially sensitive. Peace lily is not on that list, so rule out salts and watering first.
If browning continues after you have fixed feeding, watering, and placement, Iowa State suggests trying an alternative water source. Our guide to tap water for houseplants covers the options.
Trimming brown tips
Iowa State notes that trimming the brown portions with scissors can improve appearance. New browning will appear if the root cause is not fixed. Follow the natural shape of the leaf when you cut, and use clean scissors.
Judge your fix by the new leaves. If they come in with clean tips, the cause has been dealt with.
For related problems, see the peace lily yellow leaves guide and the peace lily sunburn guide. For routine care, read the peace lily care guide or visit the peace lily hub.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Spathiphyllum
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center: Peace Lily
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Why does my houseplant have brown leaf tips and edges?
- University of Maryland Extension: Indoor Plant Problems - Nonliving
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Properly Watering Container Houseplants (SPES-804)
How this guide was put together: NC State Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Iowa State University Extension, University of Maryland Extension, and Virginia Cooperative Extension guidance.