Plant guide:ðŸŠī Succulent
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Light

Sunburn on Succulent Leaves

Commonly affects: Various succulents (Crassulaceae, Aizoaceae, and others)

A pale, bleached, or brown patch develops on the sun-facing side of leaves, especially after sudden exposure to more intense light than the plant is used to.

Potential Causes

  1. 1Sudden move from indoor or shaded conditions to intense direct 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. 1Acclimate succulents gradually over 1-2 weeks when moving them to more intense light
  2. 2Provide light shade during the hottest, most intense exposure while acclimating
  3. 3Damaged tissue won't heal, but new growth will be unaffected once the plant adjusts
  4. 4Research your specific species, since sun tolerance varies significantly between succulent types

Prevention Tip

Even sun-loving succulents need a gradual transition when moved to more intense light than they're currently acclimated to.

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Fiddle Leaf Fig Sunburn — Bleached Patches from Direct Sun Exposure

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