Peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) are stunning houseplants, but seeing brown tips on their lush green leaves can be alarming. Don’t worry—brown tips are a common issue with simple fixes. This guide explores why peace lily leaves turn brown, how to treat them, and what to do about curling or yellowing. Let’s get your plant back to its vibrant self!
How to Treat Brown Tips on Peace Lily?
To treat brown tips on a peace lily, increase humidity, adjust watering to when the top inch of soil is dry, and ensure bright, indirect light.
Brown tips often signal your peace lily needs a tweak in care. Here’s how to fix them:
- Boost Humidity: Peace lilies thrive in humid conditions. Mist the leaves daily, use a humidifier, or place the pot on a pebble tray with water (keeping the base above the waterline).
- Check Watering: Overwatering or underwatering can cause browning. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry—avoid soggy soil or letting it dry out completely.
- Improve Lighting: Place it in bright, indirect light. Too much direct sun scorches leaves, while too little light stresses the plant.
- Avoid Chemicals: Use distilled or filtered water if your tap water has high fluoride or chlorine, which can brown tips.
- Fertilize Wisely: Overfeeding burns leaf edges. Use a diluted 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer every 6-8 weeks, and skip it in winter.
With these adjustments, brown tips should stop spreading.

Peace Lily Leaves Turning Brown and Yellow
Peace lily leaves turn brown and yellow from overwatering, low humidity, or too much sunlight; fix by adjusting water, humidity, and light.
When leaves turn both brown and yellow, your peace lily is sending an SOS. Here’s why it happens and what to do:
- Overwatering: Yellow leaves with brown edges often mean root rot. Check the roots—if they’re mushy, trim them and repot in fresh, well-draining soil.
- Low Humidity: Dry air browns tips and yellows leaves. Increase moisture with misting or a humidifier.
- Excess Light: Direct sunlight burns leaves, causing brown and yellow patches. Move the plant to a spot with filtered light.
- Aging: Older leaves naturally yellow and brown before dying. If it’s just the lower leaves, it’s normal—trim them off.
Pinpoint the cause, tweak your care, and the plant should recover.

Should I Cut the Brown Tips Off My Peace Lily?
Yes, cut brown tips off your peace lily with clean scissors to improve its look and redirect energy to healthy growth.
Brown tips won’t turn green again, so trimming is a smart move. Here’s how and why:
- Why Trim: Removing brown tips enhances the plant’s appearance and prevents energy waste on dead tissue.
- How to Do It: Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears. Snip just the brown part, following the leaf’s natural shape for a neat look.
- When to Stop: Only cut brown areas—leave yellow or green parts intact unless they’re dying too.
- Aftercare: After trimming, address the root cause (e.g., humidity or watering) to prevent more browning.
Trimming is cosmetic but pairs best with fixing the underlying issue.
Peace Lily Leaves Curling and Turning Brown
Peace lily leaves curl and turn brown from underwatering, low humidity, or temperature stress; water when soil is dry, boost humidity, and keep it at 65-85°F.
Curling and browning together suggest your peace lily is stressed. Here’s what’s happening and how to help:
- Underwatering: Leaves curl to conserve water, then brown if ignored. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil dries out.
- Low Humidity: Dry air causes curling and browning edges. Mist leaves or use a humidifier to mimic its tropical habitat.
- Temperature Extremes: Cold drafts or heat above 85°F (29°C) stress the plant. Keep it in a stable 65-85°F (18-29°C) range, away from vents or windows.
- Root Issues: If curling persists, check for root rot from overwatering. Repot if roots are soft and brown.
Fix the stressor, and new leaves should grow healthy and flat. For more information, see the Complete Peace Lily Care article.
Preventing Peace Lily Brown Tips
Prevention beats cure. Keep your peace lily happy with these habits:
- Water consistently—check soil moisture weekly.
- Maintain high humidity, especially in dry seasons.
- Place in bright, indirect light, not harsh sun.
- Clean leaves occasionally to remove dust.
Final Thoughts on Peace Lily Brown Tips
Brown tips on your peace lily aren’t the end of the world—they’re a sign to adjust care. Whether it’s curling, yellowing, or just browning edges, you can treat it by fine-tuning water, humidity, and light. Trim as needed, but focus on the cause for lasting results. With these tips, your peace lily will stay lush and green!
Got more peace lily questions? Dive into our other guides for beginner-friendly advice!