Low humidity
Crispy edges and tips in dry air are a classic prayer plant humidity complaint.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Prayer plants are tropical understory plants that crave moist air. In very dry indoor conditions, especially near a heating vent or air conditioner, the thin leaf margins lose water faster than the roots can replace it, so the edges and tips brown and turn crisp and the leaves may curl at the edges.
How to fix it
Raise the humidity around the plant: group it with other plants, set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, or run a small humidifier nearby — and move it away from vents and drafts. Aim for humidity above 50%, which prayer plants love. Trim the worst of the browned edges with clean scissors, following the leaf's natural shape, so it looks tidy while new growth fills in.
What fixes it
- A small room humidifier — A small humidifier near the plant keeps the edges from crisping, especially in dry winter air.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Prayer Plant care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this