Low humidity
Crispy brown edges and tips in dry air are the single most common Stromanthe complaint.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Stromanthe is a Brazilian rainforest plant that craves high humidity. In dry indoor air — 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 papery and crisp.
How to fix it
Raise the humidity around the plant well above the houseplant average: group it with other plants, set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, and run a small humidifier nearby — Stromanthe is happiest at 50% humidity or more. Move it away from vents and drafts. Trim the worst 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 is the real fix here — Stromanthe rarely stays crisp-free in dry winter air without one.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Stromanthe Triostar care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this