Sunburn and scorch
Bleached or brown papery patches where strong sun, a lamp or a heater hit the leaves.
What you'll see
- Bleached white, tan or washed-out patches on the leaves facing the sun or a lamp.
- The patches dry into brown, papery areas with sharp edges, while shaded leaves look normal.
- It shows up soon after a move into brighter light or outdoors, or after a hot, bright day.
- Leaves nearest a heater, radiator or strong lamp scorch, and that side of the pot dries faster.
Why it happens
The leaf gets more direct light and heat than it's used to, which kills the surface tissue. Dry soil makes it worse.
How to fix it
- Move the plant to bright, indirect light, or soften the sun with a sheer curtain.
- Pull it back from lamps and heaters; if a leaf feels hot to your hand, it's too close.
- Keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy, while it recovers.
- Burned patches won't heal: keep mostly green leaves, and trim off only fully brown ones.
Keep it from coming back
- Get plants used to stronger sun over 1 to 2 weeks, starting with about 2 hours a day.
- Give tender plants shade at midday; morning sun is gentler than afternoon sun.
- Follow the grow light's distance guidance, and keep leaves off hot glass and radiators.
Read more
- How much light do houseplants need?
- Which window is best for plants?
- Grow lights explained
- Moving houseplants outside and back in
- How to protect plants in a heat wave
- Hardening off seedlings
Sources
- Kindwise plant.health library: Sunburn
- Kindwise plant.health library: Light excess
- University of Maryland Extension: Excess light on indoor plants
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Scorch, sunburn and heat stress
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.