Hello, it's your rosemary plant. I'm not trying to be difficult, I promise. When I start turning brown and crisp, it's my only way of communicating that my fundamental needs aren't being met. My natural home is the dry, rocky, sun-baked hills of the Mediterranean, and I need you to replicate those conditions as closely as possible. Let's go through the most common issues.
This is, by far, the most common reason I suffer. My roots are fine and delicate, and they absolutely despise sitting in constant moisture. Soggy soil suffocates my root system, preventing it from absorbing oxygen and leading to root rot. Once this rot sets in, it travels up my stems, blocking water and nutrient transport entirely. The browning you see, often starting from the bottom and working its way up, is me essentially dying of thirst because my damaged roots can't drink. The soil should dry out considerably between waterings. Please, only water me when the top inch or two of soil feels completely dry to the touch.
This is a direct companion to overwatering. Even if you water me correctly, I can still drown if I'm planted in the wrong container or soil. A pot without adequate drainage holes is a death trap for me. Furthermore, heavy, moisture-retentive potting soil acts like a wet sponge around my roots. I need a sharply draining mix, often one amended with sand, perlite, or small gravel. Also, if my pot is too large, the excess soil holds onto water for far too long, creating a perpetually damp environment that my roots cannot tolerate.
In my native habitat, I bask in full, blazing sun all day long. I am a sun worshipper. When placed in a dim corner or a spot with only weak, indirect light, I become weak and stressed. I cannot produce the energy I need to sustain my dense, woody growth. As a result, the inner and lower parts of my stems, which receive the least light, will often brown and drop their needles. This is me sacrificing parts of myself to try and survive. I need a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct, bright sunlight daily to truly thrive.
Stagnant, humid air is my enemy. It encourages fungal diseases like powdery mildew and creates an environment where pests like spider mites thrive. These pests suck the sap from my needles, causing them to turn brown, dry out, and fall off. Good air flow around my foliage helps keep these issues at bay and allows for moisture on my leaves to evaporate quickly. Please don't cram me in a corner with other plants; give me some space to breathe.
While I am not a heavy feeder, I do require some nutrients. A severe lack of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, can cause my older needles to yellow and then brown as I pull nutrients to support new growth. However, the more common issue is over-fertilization. A strong dose of chemical fertilizer can easily burn my sensitive roots, causing rapid browning and decline. I prefer a light, occasional feeding with a balanced or slightly acidic fertilizer during my active growing season.
