Low humidity
Brown, crispy tips spread across the whole plant in dry indoor air are a classic humidity problem.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Norfolk Island Pine is a subtropical species from a humid island climate and struggles in dry household air, especially in winter near heating vents. When the air is too dry, the fine needle tips lose moisture faster than the roots can replace it, so they brown and crisp across the plant rather than on one section.
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 well away from heating vents, radiators, and drafts. Aim for moderate-to-high humidity, around 50%. Misting helps only briefly, so steady ambient humidity is the real fix. Lightly trim the worst crisped tips if you like, and new growth should come in soft and green.
What fixes it
- A small room humidifier — A small humidifier near the plant keeps the needle tips from crisping in dry winter air.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Norfolk Island Pine care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this