Brown leaf tips are relatively common for Peace Lilies, for the most part, this doesn’t mean that the plant is sick, but it could signal that something is wrong. There can be a lot of reasons why Peace Lilies develop brown leaf tips, brown leaf tips on their own are not harmful to the plant but if other issues develop like yellow leaves, or the leaves turning brown completely then the odds are that the plant is sick.
Brown tips on peace lily leaves can be caused by multiple factors, including overwatering, dry air, or excessive fertilizer. Overwatering can lead to soggy or waterlogged soil, which can result in brown tips. On the other hand, if the air around the peace lily is too dry, it can also cause the leaf tips to turn brown. Additionally, excessive fertilizer can lead to salt buildup in the soil, causing leaf burn and brown tips.
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The good news is that there are no specific diseases that turn the leaf tips of Peace Lilies brown. The bad news is that it can be difficult to treat it as there are a couple of reasons why this happens, and oftentimes it is not just one thing that causes brown leaf tips but several things combined. There are a lot of people who have been growing Peace Lilies and think that the brown leaf tips are normal, but they are not.
For the most part, when brown leaf tips form the plant is already stressed out, which makes it more vulnerable to other diseases, a small problem can turn into a big one relatively fast. If your Peace Lilies are suffering from root rot then check out my recent article Peace Lily Root Rot ( Causes & Treatment ).
Peace Lily Brown Leaf Tips
If you notice brown leaf tips on your peace lily, it could indicate several potential issues. One common cause is underwatering. Peace lilies prefer consistently moist soil, so make sure you’re watering your plant regularly and keeping the soil evenly moist, but not overly saturated. Another possibility is low humidity. Peace lilies thrive in high humidity environments, so if the air in your home is too dry, it can cause the leaf tips to turn brown.
You can increase humidity by misting the plant regularly or placing it on a tray filled with water and pebbles. Another factor to consider is excessive direct sunlight. Peace lilies prefer bright, indirect light, so if they are exposed to intense sunlight, it can lead to leaf burn and browning. Lastly, chemical buildup in the soil or using water with high mineral content can also contribute to brown leaf tips. To address this, consider using filtered water or allowing tap water to sit for a day before watering.
Overwatering
Overwatering is usually what tends to kill Peace Lilies, and this is also the main reason why they get brown leaf tips. Although Peace Lilies love having some moisture in the soil, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Even if the potting mix is well-draining, it is extremely easy to overwater Peace Lilies. If your Peace Lilies have brown tips, try to reduce the amount of water you give them or how often you water them. If your Peace Lily isn’t flowering then check out my recent article Peace Lily Not Flowering ( Top 11 Reasons ).
Not Enough Water
As you can see too much or too little water can cause brown leaf tips in Peace Lilies, this is why most people have a really difficult time addressing the issue. The good news is that it is relatively easy to figure out if the brown leaf tips are caused by not enough water. If the leaves of the Peace Lilies are drooping or are slightly wilting then odds are that the plant is stressed out due to insufficient water and this is why it develops brown leaf tips.
Poorly Draining Potting Mix
Poorly draining soil means that the water in the potting mix drains extremely slowly or it doesn’t drain at all. Oftentimes this happens if the potting mix is old, with time the potting mix can clump up and small pockets filled with water will form. Even though you water your Peace Lilies only when they seem thirsty, but if the potting mix is trapping some of this water it can lead to brown leaf tips eventually. If the flowers of your Peace Lilies are turning green then check out my recent article Peace Lily Flowers Turning Green ( Top 6 Reasons ).
Low Humidity
Peace Lilies thrive in humid environments, and if they are not grown in a humid environment they can develop brown leaf tips. Oftentimes when Peace Lilies are kept next to a heater, a well-lit window, or a dehumidifier it can stress out the plant. In this case, simply move your peace lilies to an area where the humidity and the temperatures are more or less constant, and the brown leaf tips should go away.
Fertilizers
Fertilizing Peace Lilies is not required, for the most part, this plant is used to grow in relatively poor soil. Too much fertilizer can be extremely harmful to the plant, at first the tips of the leaves will turn brown, and eventually, even the roots can be damaged by the fertilizer. In case you still want to fertilize your Peace Lilies make sure to use a fertilizer that is specially made for Peace Lilies.
High Temperatures
Peace Lilies really suffer if the temperatures are too high, these plants are used to growing in the shade of other plants, this is why they grow so well indoors. On extremely hot summer days they can develop brown leaf tips relatively fast. In this case, once the heatwave is over the Peace Lilies will bounce back in a matter of days and the new leaves will no longer have the brown tips. On the other hand, if the heatwave is a longer one then the plant will eventually start to wilt away.
Soft Water
In some areas of the country, the water tends to be soft, which means that there are not a lot of minerals in the water. Plants like Peace Lilies do need several minerals, and if your water is lacking in them then you will need to supplement the water with these minerals. Basically at that point, brown leaf tips will form as a mineral defined in the plant. To fix this issue you can either change the water which you are using to water your Peace Lilies or use a fertilizer.
Direct Sunlight
Peace Lilies do not grow well if placed under direct sunlight, the plant has evolved to grow under the shade of other plants. Once the plant gets exposed to direct sunlight for several hours a day the tips of the leaves will turn brown, and eventually, the entire leaf will be scorched. The easy fix for this one is to simply place the Peace Lily in a place where it won’t get direct sunlight.
Key Takeaways
- The most common reason why Peace Lilies get brown leaf tips is due to overwatering, or excess moisture in the soil. If you are watering your Peace Lilies far too often then they will develop brown leaf tips. On the other hand, if you only water your Peace Lilies when they are thirsty and the tips of the leaves still turn brown then odds are that the potting mix is old and it doesn’t allow the water to drain.
- Water the Peace Lilies less often and usually the problem will solve itself in a matter of weeks.
- Avoid placing the Peace Lilies next to a well-lit window as this also can cause brown leaf tips.
