Troubleshooting worksheet
Brown or scorched leaf edges
Leaf margins dry, turn tan or brown, and may become crisp while the center remains greener.
Look before acting
A visual match narrows questions. It does not prove a diagnosis.
Compare the location, pattern, affected plant parts, recent weather, watering, and changes in care before choosing a response.
Possible causes
Keep the list open at first.
01Drought or salt stress
02Hot wind or reflected heat
03Fertilizer injury
04Root restriction
05Disease
Questions to answer
Look at the whole plant and root zone.
- Did browning begin after heat or feeding?
- Are containers root-bound?
- Is damage uniform around the edge?
- Is new growth still healthy?
Low-risk actions
Change one thing at a time.
- Check moisture through the whole root zone.
- Flush container salts only when drainage is open.
- Move pots away from reflected heat when possible.
- Pause fertilizer until the cause is clearer.
Working checklist