Why does my Peace Lily have brown tips?

Your Peace Lily has brown tips most often because of minerals in tap water, especially fluoride, chlorine and salts that build up and burn the sensitive leaf edges. Low humidity and overfertilizing are common runners-up, with inconsistent watering or direct sun also at play. Switch to filtered or distilled water, flush the soil, and trim the brown tips for looks.

Most likely cause

Mineral buildup from tap water is the top cause of brown tips on Peace Lilies. They are sensitive to fluoride, chlorine and dissolved salts, which accumulate in the leaves over time and scorch the thinnest tissue, the tips, brown while the rest of the leaf stays green.

You can confirm it by the pattern. The browning sits right at the tips and outer edges, often with a thin yellow halo, and you may see a white salt crust on the soil surface or pot rim. Switch to filtered, distilled or rainwater, flush the pot thoroughly to wash out built-up minerals, and new growth should come in clean even though the existing brown tips will not turn green again.

Other causes

These rank below water quality but often combine with it.

Low humidity. Dry indoor air, especially near heaters and vents, crisps the leaf edges; tips brown faster in winter or in heated rooms.
Overfertilizing. Too much feed leaves a salt crust on the soil and burns the roots; tips brown along with a white residue on the surface.
Inconsistent watering. Swinging between bone dry and soggy stresses the roots; tips brown alongside occasional wilting and uneven moisture.
Too much direct sun. Harsh light scorches the foliage; browning appears as patches on the leaf surface facing the window, not just the tips.

How to fix it

Change your water. Use filtered, distilled or rainwater, or leave tap water out uncovered overnight so chlorine can dissipate before watering.
Flush the soil. Every couple of months, run water through the pot several times to wash out built-up fluoride and fertilizer salts.
Water consistently. Water when the top inch is dry and let the pot drain fully, keeping the soil lightly and evenly moist rather than swinging dry to soggy.
Raise the humidity. Aim for around 50 percent by grouping plants, using a pebble tray or running a humidifier, and keep the plant away from vents.
Feed sparingly. Fertilize only every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season at quarter to half strength, and not at all in winter.
Trim and adjust light. Snip brown tips following the leaf's point with clean scissors, and keep the plant in bright indirect light out of direct sun.

Cause	Tell-tale sign	Fix
Tap water minerals	Tips brown, white soil crust	Use filtered water, flush soil
Low humidity	Crispy edges, worse in winter	Raise humidity near 50 percent
Overfertilizing	Salt crust, burned tips	Feed lightly every 6 to 8 weeks
Inconsistent watering	Tips brown with occasional wilt	Keep soil evenly moist
Direct sun	Scorched patches facing window	Move to bright indirect light

Frequently asked questions

Should I cut the brown tips off my Peace Lily?

Yes, for appearance. Trim the brown tip with clean scissors, following the leaf's natural point so the cut looks natural. Cutting does not harm the plant, but it will not stop new tips browning unless you also fix the underlying cause, usually tap water or dry air.

Does tap water cause brown tips on Peace Lilies?

Often, yes. Fluoride, chlorine and dissolved salts in tap water build up in the leaves and burn the sensitive tips brown. Switch to filtered, distilled or rainwater, or leave tap water out overnight, and flush the soil occasionally to clear accumulated minerals.

Will brown tips on a Peace Lily turn green again?

No. Once leaf tissue browns it is dead and will not recover its color. You can trim the brown edge for looks, but the goal is to stop new tips browning by correcting the watering, water quality, humidity or feeding behind it.

Can low humidity cause Peace Lily brown tips?

Yes. Peace Lilies are tropical and prefer humidity of 50 percent or higher, so dry indoor air, especially near heaters and vents, dries the thin leaf edges until they crisp and brown. Raising humidity with grouping or a humidifier helps prevent it.

Am I overfertilizing my Peace Lily?

Possibly, if you feed often or at full strength. Peace Lilies need little feed, and excess fertilizer salts build up and burn the roots, showing as browning tips and a white crust on the soil. Feed only every 6 to 8 weeks in growth at quarter to half strength.

How do I stop my Peace Lily getting brown tips?

Water consistently with filtered or distilled water when the top inch is dry, keep humidity around 50 percent, and feed lightly only during the growing season. Flushing the soil every couple of months clears built-up salts that cause most tip browning.