Skip to main content
Nana Organics logo
All problems
Moderate
Nutrient Toxicity

Brown, crispy leaf edges (tip burn)

Leaf edges and tips turn brown, dry and brittle, often on newer leaves first.

Commonly affects: Lettuce, Strawberries, Basil

What you'll see

  • Brown, scorched-looking leaf tips and edges
  • Affected tissue is dry and crispy, not soft
  • Often shows on lettuce and strawberries first
  • Plant otherwise looks healthy

Likely causes

  • EC too high — too much fertiliser in the reservoir
  • Calcium delivery problem associated with water transport, canopy conditions or rapid growth
  • Salt build-up in growing media (rockwool, coco)
  • Reservoir over-concentrated from evaporation

How to fix it (step by step)

  1. 1Check EC — if above crop max, dilute reservoir with plain pH-adjusted water
  2. 2For tip burn on lettuce: add a small fan blowing across the canopy to improve transpiration
  3. 3Check substrate and drainage conditions and seek advice before flushing; do not apply a universal weekly flush
  4. 4Check dose accuracy and source-water EC; seek advice if the approved dose is unsuitable for your crop

Stop it happening again

  • Measure EC after mixing the approved dose; obtain crop-specific advice if it is outside the crop reference range
  • Keep airflow constant over the canopy
  • Top up with plain water (not nutrients) between feeds to manage EC creep

Recommended products

Complete Set

Complete 3-Part System

MICRO, GROW and BLOOM in matching sizes

View product

Need a second opinion?

Share dated photos, root observations, water readings and your mixing record so our team can assess the problem. Visual symptoms alone do not confirm a diagnosis.

Confirm the cause before treating the crop

Collect observations that distinguish possible causes

Record the first appearance of symptoms, the affected plants and whether old or new tissue is involved. Inspect roots, delivery and visible pests. Compare a healthy plant nearby. Record pH, EC, temperature and recent changes. Several causes may act together; the symptom title is a starting point, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Verify calibration and the complete mixing record. Product links explain nutrient roles; they are not instructions to use one bottle alone. Record your correction and assess subsequent growth because damaged leaves and fruit may not recover.

Escalate safely

Rapid wilting, collapse or spreading root symptoms need prompt checks of flow, oxygen and hygiene. Protect unaffected plants where practical and seek qualified diagnosis. Treatments must be registered for their intended crop and use and applied according to label, including harvest intervals.

When asking for help, provide dated root and leaf photos, water readings and mixing records. Do not combine nutrient changes with disinfectants or pesticides without compatibility advice. An online guide cannot confirm a pathogen or prescribe a universal chemical treatment.

Further reading

These sources support general cultivation guidance, not verified Nana Organics product performance. Current NaO instructions take precedence over another brand’s feeding schedule.