Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Diagnose Cause of Brown Leaf Edges
How to Diagnose Cause of Brown Leaf Edges. Often when a plant begins to fail, people assume it must be because it's infested with pests or has acquired a disease. These are common problems which do cause many plants to die, but brown leaf edges are not a symptom of these problems. Brown leaf edges mean a plant is stressed. If you see brown leaf...
Often when a plant begins to fail, people assume it must be because it's infested with pests or has acquired a disease. These are common problems which do cause many plants to die, but brown leaf edges are not a symptom of these problems. Brown leaf edges mean a plant is stressed. If you see brown leaf edges, look for common plant stressors.
Determine if the plant with brown leaf edges is receiving enough water. If the plant is living outdoors, monitor the soil over a period of several days. If it seems to be dry for long periods, supplement the natural rainfall with frequent waterings. Most house plants must be watered once per week.
Check to see if the plant is root-bound. When the roots of a plant fill a container, they begin to wrap their roots around the bottom and sides of the container. When this happens, they cannot bring in a sufficient supply of water. Giving the plant more water helps, but a better long-term solution is to repot the plant into a bigger container.
See if the soil adequately holds water. Look at the soil to see if it contains a large amount of sand, rocks or perlite. These materials create a porous soil, which allows water to quickly drain. This is ideal for cacti a succulents, but other plants cannot get an adequate supply of water before it drains.
Look at the roots to see if they are damaged. Root damage can cause a disruption in water supply and therefore brown leaf edges. If roots are rotting, the plant has likely been overwatered. Determine the cause of the root damage and prevent if from happening again to save the plant.
Reduce fertilization. When water is eliminated as a possible source of plant stress and cause of brown leaf edges, the plant is usually being overfertilized. Synthetic fertilizers cause a build-up of salt in the soil, which cause plant stress.
Tips & Warnings
Fix a sandy soil by adding compost, which helps the soil retain water.
If you determine your plant with brown leaf edges is not receiving enough water and the problem is not immediately fixable, trim the plant back. This reduces its water needs and allows it to recover.
Switch to organic fertilizer if your plant is being overfertilized. Organic fertilizers do not cause a build up of salt and allows you to continue delivering the same nutrients to your plant.
