Why Does My Plant Have Burnt Leaves? A Guide to Sunburn and Leaf Scorch

Quick Diagnostic Chart

Hello, plant friends! Anastasia here. If your plant’s leaves are developing crispy brown patches or look bleached and washed-out, it’s very likely getting a sunburn.

Just like us, plants can get too much sun. Leaf scorch happens when a leaf is exposed to more intense light and heat than it can handle. It’s a common issue, but easy to fix once you know the signs.

Too Much of a Good Thing

A plant’s leaves are covered in chlorophyll, the green pigment that absorbs light for photosynthesis. Think of it as a solar panel. Each plant is adapted to handle a certain amount of light energy.

When a plant is exposed to light that is too intense, its “solar panels” get overloaded. The chlorophyll molecules are destroyed faster than the plant can replace them, which causes the bleached or faded yellow look. The intense light also generates a lot of heat, which can literally cook the leaf tissue, causing it to dry out, die, and turn into a crispy, brown patch of leaf scorch.

Cause #1: Too Much Direct Light

This is the most straightforward cause.

• Why it happens: You have a plant that evolved in the shady understory of a rainforest (like a Calathea or Fern) sitting in a spot that gets hours of intense, direct afternoon sun. Its leaves are simply not built to handle that level of radiation.
• How to check: The burn marks are on the leaves most directly exposed to the sun. The location is a south- or west-facing window that gets blazing hot in the afternoon.
• The Fix: Move the plant to a more appropriate location. Most houseplants desire “bright, indirect light.” This means moving it back a few feet from the window, or to a spot where it gets gentle morning sun (east-facing window). Using a sheer curtain to diffuse the light is also a fantastic solution.

Cause #2: Sudden Change in Light (Acclimation Shock)

Moving a plant too quickly can be a shock to its system.

• Why it happens: A plant that has been living in a lower-light environment has adapted by producing thin, sensitive leaves optimized for that condition. If you suddenly move it into a much brighter spot, those leaves are not prepared for the dramatic increase in light intensity and will scorch easily.
• How to check: The sunburn appeared within a few days of you moving the plant from a dim location (or from indoors to outdoors) into direct sun.
• The Fix: You must acclimate your plants. Move the plant back to a shadier spot and gradually introduce it to more light over a period of one to two weeks. Start with just an hour of direct sun per day and slowly increase the duration.

Cause #3: Water Droplets on Leaves

This can cause small, focused burn spots.

• Why it happens: Water droplets sitting on the surface of a leaf can act like tiny magnifying glasses. When the sun shines on them, they focus the light and heat onto a single point on the leaf, causing a small, perfectly round burn mark.
• How to check: The burn marks are small, circular, and scattered across the leaves. You may have recently misted the plant or watered it from overhead while it was in the sun.
• The Fix: Water the soil, not the leaves. If you need to clean the leaves, do so in the evening or move the plant out of the sun until the foliage is completely dry. This is another reason why misting in bright light is generally not a good idea.

Best Practices for Happy Leaves

• Know Your Plant’s Light Needs: This is the most important step. Research if your plant is a low-light, medium-light, or high-light specimen and place it accordingly.
• Acclimate, Acclimate, Acclimate: Never move a plant from low light to high light abruptly. A gradual transition is key.
• Filter Intense Light: For very sunny windows, a sheer curtain is your best friend. It provides the brightness plants love without the harsh, burning rays.
• Water the Base: Keep the leaves dry when the plant is in the sun to avoid the magnifying glass effect.

Which Plants are Most Susceptible?

Can a sunburned leaf heal or turn green again?

Should I cut off the burnt leaves?

Is morning sun safer than afternoon sun?