Green thumbs and would-be green thumbs know that brown usually isn't a preferred color on a houseplant. But Marie Iannotti makes an important distinction regarding the color brown, as it relates to houseplants. "Browning leaves is a good indication that the plant is dry," observes About's Gardening Guide. "But when the browning uniformly starts from the leaf tips and watering doesn’t help, it’s a good bet that your plants are suffering from low humidity." Read her article on why the tips of houseplants turn brown to learn more.