In a world where temperatures are getting hotter and droughts and heatwaves are increasing, sunburn is becoming an increasing threat to the well-being of plants. Your plants can get sunburned after being in the sun. They are most at risk in spring and summer. Whether indoors or outdoors, sunburn can be fatal to plants and can easily be mistaken for something else. But if it is recognized and treated correctly, your plants can survive. There are ways to prevent sunburn on plants in the first place, and we'll give you a few tips on how to recognize and avoid it.
It's actually quite easy to tell if your plants' leaves are sunburned. Just like our skin, they also change color when theytoo much sunbut instead of red, they turn yellow or white - especially if the fire is very severe. Whitening of plant leaves is often the first and sometimes the only sign of sunburn on plants. You can think of this problem as sunburn damage and you are not far from the truth. In your home, the plants are exposed to a high proportion of filtered or artificial light. The problem arises when you bring a plant directly from the house into the sunny garden without preparing it for the additional UV radiation it will receive outside.
The leaves may also change color if the plant receives too much water or too little light, but usually the cause of this change is sunburn. You will notice this on the leaves at the top of the plant where the light falls. The change is not as pronounced on the lower leaves, which are closer to the ground and receive some shade.
The causes of sunburn in plants
Unlike humans, sunburn in plants is not caused by prolonged exposure to UV radiation. Although direct sunlight contributes, the immediate cause for both indoor and outdoor plants is the lack of moisture in the soil. This means that both regular light and UV light can endanger your plants.
Many plant lovers may have heard that watering plants in the middle of the day puts them at risk of sunburn. However, this only applies to plants with leaves that have plant hairs (trichomes). The reason for this is that the water contained in the plant hairs increases exposure to sunlight, which can cause burns. So if your plants have smooth, hairless leaves, there's no harm in watering them midday.
Other factors that contribute to sunburn in plants include low humidity, low nighttime temperatures, followed by strong daytime sunlight. The location of the plants also plays a role, as the heat and light radiation from walls, especially concrete or light-colored surfaces, can make the plants more susceptible to sunburn.
Protect plants from the sun or avoid sunburn
Find the right location for your plants
Proper care of plants reduces the risk of sunburn.For houseplantsyou should always read the label. They generally tolerate weaker sunlight than those outdoors, making them more susceptible to sunburn if placed in the wrong location. For many plants that like bright but not direct light, sun protection on a sunny day can block UV light and reduce the risk of sunburn.
Hardening off the plants
If you move houseplants outdoors, consider placing them in a greenhouse until they mature, as greenhouses filter UV light. If a greenhouse is not available,Gardeners often “harden off” their plants, gradually acclimating them to more direct sunlight. A common practice is to place houseplants outside for an extra hour each day for a period of two weeks.
Regular watering and mulching
If soil moisture is the root cause of sunburn in plants, then the best advice to prevent sunburn is to water your plants regularly. In the garden, it's best to do it early in the morning. If you do it in the evening, ensure a humid environmentthe annoying snailslike.
Then protect the soil moisture with a layer of mulch. Keep mulch away from the plant's stem to reduce the possibility of disease spreading into the dried, cracked bark.
Protect root growth
Also make sure that nothing hinders root growth (and thus water absorption). The root growth of a tree or shrub is usually as wide as the tree crown. So if you have a sprawling tree orShrub next to a deep foundationplanting, the plant can only extend its roots in three directions, not four.
Important tip:
If the damage is not too extensive, plants can recover from sunburn. Simply remove any damaged leaves, protect the plants with a shade sail stretched over them until new growth appears, and water generously. Awnings, parasols orPergolas are suitablegood for that too. You can cover smaller trees and bushes with bird protection nets to block out some of the sun's rays.
