Quick Answer

Nutrient burn shows as brown, crispy tips on leaves, starting from the outermost tips and working inward. It is caused by EC (salt concentration) being too high for the crop stage. Fix by partially draining and diluting your reservoir with pH-adjusted water.

Symptoms

• Brown or tan crispy leaf tips and edges
• Tip burn starts at the very tip, not the middle of leaves
• Affected leaves still green in the centre
• May appear on multiple leaves across the plant
• Plant still growing but tips look scorched

Causes

• EC too high for the crop’s growth stage (seedlings and young plants are very sensitive)
• Solution concentration increased too quickly
• High source water EC combined with full nutrient dose
• Evaporation concentrating salts without top-up

Fix

1. Measure EC with a calibrated meter.
2. If above your crop’s target, drain 30–50% of reservoir.
3. Refill with pH-adjusted water (low EC — RO preferred).
4. Retest EC — repeat if still high.
5. Reduce EC gradually. Target 0.3–0.5 mS/cm drop per day maximum.
6. Burned tips will not recover — they are permanent. Monitor new growth for recovery.

⚠️ Safety note: EC estimates vary by crop and growth stage. Consult your nutrient product documentation for target ranges. Do not rely solely on general guidelines when dealing with actively stressed plants.

Related Reading

• High EC in Hydroponics
• Low EC in Hydroponics
• Tip Burn in Hydroponic Lettuce
• pH Drift in Hydroponics