Plant guide:🍌 Banana
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Leaves

Leaf Browning and Tip Burn on Banana

Commonly affects: Musa acuminata, M. balbisiana (Banana)

Leaf edges and tips turn brown and crispy, starting at the margins and progressing inward, most common on indoor or container-grown plants.

Potential Causes

  1. 1Low humidity, especially in indoor or heated environments
  2. 2Salt or fluoride buildup from tap water accumulating in the soil
  3. 3Underwatering allowing the substrate to dry out excessively between waterings

Solution Steps

  1. 1Increase humidity around the plant with a humidifier, pebble tray, or grouping with other plants
  2. 2Switch to filtered or rain water if tap water is high in fluoride or salts
  3. 3Flush the pot thoroughly with plain water every few months to clear accumulated salts
  4. 4Water consistently, keeping soil evenly moist but not waterlogged

Prevention Tip

Bananas are notoriously sensitive to fluoride — switching to filtered water often resolves chronic tip burn that other fixes don't.

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