Plant + symptom guide
Brown tips usually build after repeated small stresses. Separate dry air and salts from underwatering, wet roots, and pest damage.
For croton, read this symptom alongside how the plant usually behaves: Crotons drop leaves after moves, drafts, low light, or watering swings. They need strong light to hold color but dislike abrupt changes.
Look for white crust on the soil or pot rim.
Check whether tips worsen near vents, heaters, or hot glass.
Inspect whether new leaves are forming cleanly while old tips remain brown.
Ask whether leaf drop started after purchase or relocation.
Check for drafts and cold glass before moving again.
Evergreen diagnosis
Croton brown tips often follow dry air, missed watering, cold drafts, or mineral buildup. The plant's colorful leaves are thick, but they still mark stress along the tip and edge.
A croton can keep old brown tips for months. The goal is to prevent the next leaves from burning while keeping the plant bright enough to hold its color.
Crotons prefer a steady watering rhythm. Letting the pot dry hard, then soaking it, can leave tips dry even if the plant does not immediately drop leaves.
Water when the upper mix dries and make sure the whole root ball is moistened. Avoid leaving the pot in standing water, because damaged roots can also cause tip burn.
A croton near a winter window or exterior door may develop browning tips and edges after chilly nights. The rest of the plant may still look bright for a while.
Move it away from drafts and keep it in strong indirect light. Trim only dry tissue if needed, and watch new growth for cleaner color.
Trim only dead brown tissue without cutting into healthy green tissue.
Water thoroughly in a draining pot instead of giving frequent small sips.
Move sensitive plants away from vents and harsh heat.
Related symptoms
Useful reading
Brown tips usually point to repeated stress: dry air, inconsistent watering, mineral buildup, root stress, or light changes.
Read the guide
Before you throw the plant away, separate water stress, root rot, pests, light problems, temperature stress, and normal leaf loss.
Read the guide
Peace lilies droop from both dry soil and wet soil. The fix depends on pot weight, soil moisture, light, and whether the plant recently moved or was repotted.
Read the guide
Curling leaves can come from dry soil, heat, pests, low humidity, overwatering stress, or too much light. The direction and timing help.
Read the guide
Calathea leaves curl from dry soil, low humidity, heat, mineral stress, direct sun, or pests such as spider mites.
Read the guide
Low light usually causes slow, leggy growth and wet soil. Too much light causes scorch, fading, and crisp patches on exposed leaves.
Read the guide