Leek Mako Nice F1 Brown Leaf Tips - Causes & Fixes

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Salt Accumulation (Fertilizer Burn)

Leeks are heavy feeders, but excessive application of nitrogen-based fertilizers can cause salts to build up in the leaf tissue. This draws moisture out of the leaf tips, leading to characteristic brown, crispy margins.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Check if you have recently applied high-strength granular or liquid fertilizer and look for salt crusts on the soil surface.

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1 Flush the soil thoroughly with large amounts of fresh, distilled, or rainwater to leach out the accumulated mineral salts from the root zone.

2 Prune away the most severely burnt, crispy leaf tips using clean shears to prevent further tissue degradation.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

In Stock

3 Transition to a diluted fertilization schedule and consider adding organic amendments like worm castings to improve soil structure and nutrient buffering.

Back to the Roots Organic Worm Castings 5lb

Worm Castings

$17

In Stock

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Water Stress (Drought or Fluctuating Moisture)

Leeks require consistent moisture to develop their characteristic thick stalks. Rapid drying of the substrate causes the most distal parts of the leaves—the tips—to desiccate first.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Stick your finger two inches into the soil to see if it feels significantly drier than usual.

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1 Check the soil moisture levels immediately using a moisture meter to determine if the substrate has reached a drought state.

GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter SMM-V3

Water Meters

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2 Establish a consistent watering schedule to prevent the rapid drying and fluctuating moisture levels that cause tip desiccation.

Chapin 48000 0.5G Watering Can

2.3 L • Recycled Plastic

$12

In Stock

3 Apply a layer of organic mulch or vermiculite to the soil surface to help retain moisture and stabilize substrate hydration.

Back to the Roots Organic Vermiculite 24qt

22.7 L • Vermiculite

$42

In Stock

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Botrytis Leaf Blight (Early Stage)

High humidity or frequent rainfall can promote Botrytis, which often starts as small, water-soaked lesions that eventually turn brown and necrotic at the leaf tips.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the base of the leaves for any fuzzy grey fungal growth or dark, sunken spots.

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1 Remove and destroy all infected leaves immediately to prevent the fungal spores from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.

2 Apply an organic fungicide to protect the remaining healthy tissue and control the spread of the blight.

Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$12

In Stock

3 Improve air circulation around your leeks and avoid overhead watering to reduce the high humidity that promotes Botrytis growth.

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Nutrient Deficiency (Potassium)

A lack of potassium prevents the plant from regulating water movement efficiently through the cellular structure. This deficiency typically manifests as marginal chlorosis (yellowing) that progresses to brown necrosis at the tips.

Common

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How to confirm: Observe if the browning is accompanied by yellowing edges along the entire length of the leaf tip.

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1 Apply a potassium-rich organic fertilizer to restore the plant's ability to regulate water movement and cellular structure.