Plant guide:🍌 Banana
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Sunburn on Banana Leaves

Commonly affects: Musa acuminata, M. balbisiana (Banana)

Pale, bleached, or crispy brown patches develop on leaves, especially after a plant is suddenly moved from shade into intense direct sun.

Potential Causes

  1. 1Sudden transition from indoor or shaded conditions to intense outdoor sun
  2. 2Skipping the gradual acclimation process when moving plants outdoors for summer
  3. 3An unexpected heatwave hitting an already-stressed plant

Solution Steps

  1. 1Move the plant back to partial shade and reintroduce sun gradually over 1-2 weeks
  2. 2Remove severely burned leaves once new growth has acclimated, since damaged tissue won't recover
  3. 3Water well before and during hot spells to help the plant cope with light stress
  4. 4Provide light afternoon shade in the hottest climates even for acclimated plants

Prevention Tip

Acclimate banana plants gradually over one to two weeks when moving them from indoor shade to full outdoor sun to prevent sunburn.

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