Healthy peace lilies have elegant green leaves on stems that bear beautiful, slender, graceful flowers. If you notice that your peace lilies have brown tips, it’s time to revise your maintenance and care routines.
So why does my peace lily have brown tips? Brown tips on a peace lily plant are caused by water stress, temperature extremes, lack of moisture, direct sun exposure, plant disease, and over-fertilization.
Identifying the causes of brown leaf tips on peace lilies may seem simple, but there are a few things you need to learn before fixing the problem. We wrote this article to provide comprehensive advice on dealing with brown tips on peace lily leaves. Now let’s find out together:
Contents
Reasons for Peace Lily Brown Leaf Tips
Several factors can cause the tips of peace lily leaves to turn brown. Now let’s see the main reasons for brown leaf tips on peace lilies and techniques for trimming the plant 🙁Source: Clemson Cooperative Expansion)
excess water problem
Overwatering is the main cause of brown leaf tips on peace lilies. Houseplants that receive too much water cannot meet their oxygen needs. Oversaturated potting soil generally prevents the roots from absorbing oxygen.
Brown leaf tips are signs of lily root smothering, as excess water is known to seal air holes in the soil. The problem results in poor air circulation around the root system and soil.
Overwatering can also occur when the peace lily is grown in a large container. The oversized pot holds plenty of water which drains slowly while the roots stay in the soggy soil for a longer period of time.
Brown tips of peace lily leaves are due to a root rot problem. Damaged roots can no longer absorb essential nutrients and water for the plant. If the root rot problem is not solved in time, the peace lily plant will perish.
We recommend testing the soil moisture before watering your peace lily plant. A soil moisture meter is the most reliable instrument for measuring the moisture content of potting soil. Water your houseplant when the meter indicates the soil is dry.
Transfer your peace lily plant to a smaller container if maintaining proper humidity levels is difficult. Small pots are known to drain water faster to reduce the risk of root rot.
Inconsistent watering habits
Underwatering is another cause of brown leaf tips on peace lilies. The roots need an optimal water supply to keep the leaves above the ground. Inconsistent watering habits will force the plant to become dehydrated in the long run.
Dry, crusty leaf tips are indicators of insufficient water supply to the plant. You will also see the plant drop and wilt, along with brown leaf tips. Fixing Peace Lily browning tips due to too little water is a simple task.
We recommend testing the soil’s moisture content and adding water if it feels dry to the touch. Moisturizing the soil will help get your graceful peace lily leaves back on track. If you feel the potting soil is drying out quickly, add rice husks in the middle.
Peace lilies use more water in the spring and summer due to their active growth rate. We recommend watering the plant two or three times a week. But be sure to reduce the frequency of watering in winter due to dormancy effect.
poor soil drainage
Potted peace lilies thrive in fertile, well-drained soil. Poorly drained soil will lead to waterlogging and waterlogging after watering. Oversaturated soil experiences poor aeration, which causes brown leaf tips on peace lilies.
Poor drainage is also the main cause of houseplant overwatering problems. The problem occurs due to a lack of drainage holes to help remove excess water around the root systems, causing the tips of peace lily leaves to turn brown due to the effects of rot. roots.
We recommend growing your peace lilies in well-drained soil and in a container with several drainage holes in the bottom. These holes prevent water from collecting at the bottom of the pot and making the bottom soggy.
Remember to develop the habit of repotting peace lilies every two years to avoid root problems. The problem often causes the potting mix to become compact and prevent water from flowing properly around the plant.
Improper irrigation technique
If you water your peace lilies from above, water droplets will splash onto the leaves, causing bacterial or fungal growth. These plant diseases are responsible for the brown tips and edges of peace lily leaves.
We recommend watering your peace lilies from the bottom rather than the top, as this will help prevent the surface of the leaf from getting wet. Self-watering pots are the best pots for keeping your houseplant hydrated without causing problems.
Extreme temperatures
Peace lilies need a specific temperature range to thrive and survive. These indoor plants are suitable for beginners as they are not fussy. But brown leaf tips will occur when indoor temperature is above 85OF and below 65OF.
We recommend keeping the houseplant away from vents to prevent the soil and foliage from drying out quickly. Also, keep the plant away from windows or doors during the winter season.
lack of humidity
Peace lilies are tropical evergreens that thrive in a warm, humid environment. Any houseplant lover should mimic the state of the rainforest at home for the peace lily plant to thrive.
Low indoor humidity will cause leaf tips and edges to brown and crisp. The leaf problem occurs because they experience water loss from the leaves faster than uptake by the root systems.
We recommend moving the houseplant to the bathroom to take advantage of the warmth and humidity of the daily shower. Another great option is to group indoor plants together to increase humidity.
You can also install an electric humidifier to increase indoor humidity and keep plant leaves shiny and green. Remember to follow a strict watering routine to maintain a high level of humidity around your peace lily plant.
Over-fertilization
Peace lilies thrive in fertile, well-drained soil, although they don’t eat much like other tropical houseplants. We recommend using little fertilizer to improve vegetative growth and foliage.
Too much fertilizer will lead to brown leaf tips due to excessive salt buildup in the potting soil. Over-fertilization problems occur when full-strength liquid fertilizer is used.
Be sure to flush the potting soil every three months to remove excess mineral salt. Also, use a diluted liquid fertilizer every month in the spring and summer to feed your water lily.
We recommend that you do not feed your peace lilies in the winter due to the dormancy effect. If you accidentally feed your houseplant, consider transplanting it to a container and fresh potting soil. Rinsing the soil during the winter period is not recommended to avoid excessive watering problems.
direct sun exposure
Peace lilies prefer direct sunlight to thrive and stay healthy. Brown leaf tips and edges develop when the plant is exposed to direct sunlight. The whole leaf eventually turns brown and crispy.
The best solution is to keep the houseplant away from strong direct sunlight. Make sure the window has curtains to reduce the intensity of sunlight. We recommend the use of artificial lighting for people who live in areas with longer summer seasons.
People reading this are also reading:
- Yellowing Peace Lily Leaves: Causes and How to Fix It
conclusion
Healthy peace lilies have elegant green foliage and beautiful lily-like flowers. If you see brown spots on the leaves of your peace lily, you should revise your cultural care routine as soon as possible. Brown tips on peace lily leaves are due to improper care regimen.
The main causes of brown tips in water lilies are water stress, direct exposure to sunlight, extreme temperatures and lack of humidity, over-fertilization and mineralized water. We recommend examining your houseplant to determine the exact cause.
If you’ve read this far, I can now assume that you’ve been having trouble with the tips and edges of the brown leaves on your peace lily plant. We hope the information in this article helps you resolve the issue and prevent future occurrences.