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Leaf Scorch and Sunburn 🦠
At a glance
- Cause: Environmental stress, not an infectious disease
- Tell-tale sign: Crispy margins/tips or bleached patches on the sun-exposed side
- Severity: Usually cosmetic unless the root/water stress continues
How to identify
Leaf scorch appears as yellowing, browning, or crisping along leaf tips and margins, or bleached patches where direct sun hit tender tissue. It often shows on the hottest/window-facing side or after a sudden move into stronger sun.
What causes it
Leaves scorch when they lose water faster than roots can replace it, or when light/heat exceeds what the tissue is acclimated to. Drought, wind, salt buildup, root damage, reflective heat, and hot windows can all contribute.
Treatment & management
Following Integrated Pest Management:
- Move or shade suddenly exposed plants; acclimate gradually to brighter light.
- Check soil moisture and roots before watering more.
- Remove only fully dead leaves; partly green leaves still feed the plant.
- Reduce reflective heat and hot-window stress where possible.
- Correct the underlying water/root issue rather than treating as a fungus.
Prevention
Harden plants off gradually, avoid sudden sun moves, mulch outdoor roots, and keep watering consistent during heat.
Affects (in this guide)
Houseplants moved into sun, plants near hot windows, young natives before establishment, and trees/shrubs under heat or root stress