On a houseplant, sunburn looks like a leaf damaged by overheating that will not recover. All that can be done is to prevent further damage to other leaves, since the burns do not spread like a fungus, but remain in the damaged area. Even a light-loving plant can burn if, after winter or a store, it is suddenly exposed to direct sunlight.
An expert from the Zen channel “Exotica – Encyclopedia of House Plants” spoke about how to recognize a burn and what to do about it.
How to recognize a sunburn
On the side of the leaves that “look” directly at the sun, light dried areas appear – brown, beige, whitish. If the leaves are thin, then the burns are light brown and dry. The initially delicate leaf becomes even more fragile, like paper.
In zamioculcas and ficus with dense leaves, burns look like darkened, faded spots.
In plants with two-color colors, burns are often visible in light areas, since such leaves have less chlorophyll. And the leaves of ferns become stained, dry out and lose their elasticity.
Unlike fungus, overwatering or nutrient deficiencies, sunburn appears within a day. It is dry and without a wet border, and if you move the pot to a darker place, it does not increase. Signs of a fungal or bacterial disease are wet, soft spots with a yellow border that become larger and larger.
How to help a plant
First of all, move the pot out of direct sunlight next to the window, behind the tulle. The lighting should be bright, but diffused – a dark place is also not good for plants.
Do not flood the plant with water, otherwise the roots may rot. There is no need to feed it either, since it is stressed and needs calm conditions.
If the sheet is completely damaged or dried out, you can remove it. If the burn only partially covers it, don't cut it off—even if damaged, it will still work and supply nutrients.
