Even spider plants don't like it.

Q: What am I doing wrong? The tips of my spider plants turn brown? I use only water that I leave sit a few days before watering them. They look healthy and produce lots of babies but their tips turn brown. Any ideas?

Michelle, Whitehall

A: The most common reason for the brown tips has to do with water. Low humidity can cause tip browning as can uneven watering (watering at irregular intervals creating stress on the plant). Try increasing the humidity (mist with water or put the pot on a tray of gravel with water to create a mini-climate) and water regularly.

Other possibilities include salt buildup in the soil from fertilizer or chlorine or fluoride in the water.