Fertilizer build-up
Brown tips and edges plus heavy feeding usually means salt build-up in the soil.
Diagnosis
Fertilizer build-up
What's happening
Excess fertilizer salts accumulate in the mix and burn this Pilea's fine, sensitive root tips, which shows up as browning leaf edges and tips and often a white crust on the soil surface. The plant's delicate roots are quicker to scorch than tougher houseplants.
How to fix it
Flush the pot: run plenty of plain water through the soil until it drains freely, repeating several times to wash the salts out. Then cut back to feeding at half strength every three to four weeks during the growing season only, and skip feeding entirely in winter when growth slows.
What fixes it
- A long-spout watering can — A steady can makes it easy to flush the pot thoroughly with plain water to rinse out built-up salts.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Moon Valley Pilea care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this