Sunburn on Plants: What It Looks Like, & How To Avoid It

Photo by @renoplantmom

Photo by @renoplantmom

In most parts of the country, summer means one thing: More sun! While we're typically out playing in it, our plants are sometimes burning in it. With the sun being at its closest to earth during the summer months, be sure to take notice of how your plants are reacting. Here are a few things to know about sunburn with houseplants.

What Sunburn Looks Like on Plants

Look out for white spots or dry brown splotches in random areas of a leaf. This is a clear indicator of sunburn. Sadly, the leaf won't repair itself but you can trim the areas or the entire leaf off, and there’s no reason why your plant should continue suffering or not recover from its sunburn.

Avoiding Sunburn on Plants

While you may consider moving your plants entirely during the summer months so that they aren’t in areas that are too sunny, you may just move them here and there or invest in shades that slightly filter the sun. On long sunny days in the midst of summer, particularly for plants placed in south or west facing windows, move your plants a few feet away from their normal sunny perches or draw the shades to give them a chance to recover and cool.

Read up on all our summer care tips for plants to ensure your greenery has their best season yet!

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FIDDLE LEAF FIG TREE

A lush and sculptural plant with elegant violin-shaped leaves.