If your peace lily is browning at the tips, it may be suffering from one of several problems. Temperature stress, low humidity, over-fertilization, and sun scorch are all possible causes of this issue.
The most common cause of brown leaves on peace lilies is overwatering. Overwatering dehydrates plant cells and prevents them from absorbing vital nutrients.
Temperature Stress
Peace lilies are tropical plants that prefer to grow in moist conditions within the jungles of Southeast Asia and South America. But they don’t like waterlogged soil, so if you notice the plant’s leaves are turning yellow and brown, it’s time to figure out what’s causing it.
Temperature stress is a common cause of yellowing and brown leaf tips. It can be triggered by fluctuating indoor temperatures, draughts from open windows and air conditioning, or by direct exposure to the sun’s rays.
It is possible to solve this issue by moving the plant to a location where it receives less direct sunlight, or by using a humidifier to bring the moisture level back up to normal for your peace lily.
Flushing the plant’s soil and roots regularly is also a great way to prevent salt buildup, which can contribute to leaves turning yellow or brown. You can flush your peace lily with a solution of equal parts of water and a fertilizer containing only a small amount of salt.
Low Humidity
Low humidity in the air can also cause the leaf tips of your peace lily to turn yellow. This is a sign that the plant is in danger of drying out, so water it immediately to alleviate the problem.
Unlike other plants that can tolerate dry conditions a few times, peace lilies will die quickly if they are continually under watered. Ensure that your lily’s container has drainage holes, so that water can flow out of the pot without sitting in the soil.
Overwatering can lead to browning of the leaves, especially if you have been overwatering for a long period of time. Make sure you water thoroughly each time so that the water goes down to the roots of the plant.
Often, over fertilizing can lead to this issue as well. If this is the case, scale back on the amount of fertilizer you use and don’t re-fertilize until the following spring.
Over-fertilization
One of the most common problems that affects peace lily plants is over-fertilization. It can cause a build-up of salts in the soil and lead to brown tips yellow leaves (tip burn).
Peace lilies are sensitive to fertilizer and should only receive 2 or 3 applications during the growing season at half strength. Fertilizers should be flushed from the potting mix after use.
It’s also important to water from the top, rather than the bottom, whenever possible to flush excess salts from the soil and prevent tip burn.
Overwatering is a major problem for peace lilies, as it suffocates their roots and inhibits their ability to absorb oxygen. This can eventually lead to root rot, which causes the plant to wilt and die.
Another thing that can cause brown tips is exposure to too much direct sunlight, especially during the warmer months. If you have this issue, try to move your plant to an area with more indirect light to keep it happy.
Sun Scratches
Peace lilies thrive in tropical regions, and they like a high level of humidity to keep their leaves shiny and healthy. If you live in a dry climate or your peace lily is sitting in a drafty spot, it might not be getting enough humidity, which could cause brown tips on the leaves.
You can increase the humidity by misting the plant regularly, placing it on a tray filled with pebbles and water, or using a room humidifier. You can also try placing a group of peace lilies together to raise the humidity in the area.
Another problem that may be affecting your peace lily is mineral buildup in its soil. It can happen if you use tap water with too much chlorine or chloramines or if you’re using water softeners. If you can see white deposits around the drainage holes of your potting soil, it’s probably a good idea to flush the plant with bottled water until it runs out.