How to Avoid and Treat Succulent Sunburn

Because they prefer dry conditions, succulents typically struggle in cold, rainy climates. Hence  it makes sense that they would flourish on a hot summer day in the direct sun? Right? Unfortunately, this isn't entirely accurate. Although succulents do benefit from a lot of sunlight, too much of a good thing can be dangerous for them!

You might have found that your succulent collection has been burnt if you've ever placed them outside or on a bright sunny windowsill to get some direct sunshine leaving them under the suns glare for a little too long.

Is there anything you can do if you find out that your prized plants have received too much sun?  Depending on how severe the burn is,  sunburns can threaten the health of your plant, whereas minor burns may only be cosmetic. It's crucial to understand the signs of sunburns before deciding how to deal with your sunburnt succulents.

The Symptoms of Sunburn

Succulents that have been scorched will have areas of discolouration on their leaves. Only specific areas of the plant may have developed sunburn if only a portion of it was exposed to the suns rays. The colour of the patches may be tan, brown, or black, depending on the intensity of the burn. The discolouration will be darker the more significant the injury is.

The texture of the leaf's discoloured spots may also be different from its healthy portions. The burned parts may feel rough if the plant's leaves usually have a smooth surface. Slight burns may not modify the texture much at all, but severe burns will cause a leaf's silky smooth surface to become rough and scarred.

Will my Succulent Survive Sunburn?

The severity of the burns will determine whether your succulent survives its sunburn. Your plant might be fine if it merely experienced too much sun for one or two days. The results might be a little less promising if you kept your plants in direct sunlight for a longer period of time such as a weekend; so make sure not to leave them in direct sunlight if you're going on a summer getaway. You wouldn't want to come home and realise you've lost all of your plants to the heat of the sun! Your succulent's leaves have been harmed in such a way that the discoloured areas prevent them from performing photosynthesis. The unburnt areas of the leaves are still be capable of photosynthesising, so depending on the severity of the burns, your plant might be okay.

How to Treat Sunburnt Succulents

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can really do to repair the damage done to your succulents by the suns rays. Any discoloured patches you notice on your plant are permanent since plants cannot heal from sunburn in the same way that we as humans can (no amount of after sun is going to help here!). There are a few solutions for handling sunburned leaves, but there is no cure for sunburn. The first step in dealing with sunburn is to remove the plant's damaged areas. You might be able to grow new succulents from the damaged leaves since many succulents can be propagated from leaf cuttings.

Allowing the plant to grow is another option. The old burned leaves on your succulent will gradually shrivel up and fall off as it grows and develops new leaves. If you aren't desperate or haven't really got the time to get rid of the damaged leaves right away, you can just let nature take its course. The plant will eventually produce enough new growth for the sunburned areas to eventually fall off and for new growth to appear.

Avoiding Succulent Sunburn

Now that you know how you can deal with sunburn, it's probably a good idea for me to share with you my thoughts on how to avoid sunburn in the first place. After all, we are told countless times that many the main issue we often face with succulents, cacti and other indoor house plants is that they aren't receiving enough sunlight; so it is totally understandable that sometimes we then go to the other extreme and give them too much!

Many different succulent species can flourish in direct sunshine, but they must be given time to adjust to this and they can get especially comfortable in moderate temperatures here in the UK. So sudden heatwaves and increases in temperatures throughout the summer can drastically effect your succulents.

Move the plants to a shaded spot once they have had enough sun for the day. If moving the plants isn't an option, you can think about draping a shade cloth over them instead (this is something I've spoken about in a previous blog). Sunburn can be avoided by moving your plants during the warmest portion of the day or by covering them.

Plants are more vulnerable to sunburn in hot weather because this dries out more quickly. The plant merely becomes a little bit more brittle and prone to burning due to the water loss brought on by increased temperatures. In comparison to succulents planted in the ground, succulents planted in containers are more susceptible to drying out. The naturally colder temperatures underground are advantageous for succulents that are buried in the ground. Containers have a tendency to heat up rapidly, particularly in direct sunlight, which accelerates evaporation. Succulents should only be watered when the soil is dry, but in hot weather, especially if they are in containers, they may require more frequent watering.

Try watering your succulents in the morning or evening when temps are cooler to prevent them from drying out so rapidly. This will spare the plant from the concern that the water would evaporate before it has a chance to absorb it all. Moreover, you'll be able to avoid the error of watering your plant with water that has been heated by the sun in a hose or watering can. Your plants' roots and foliage could get burned by hot water.

Final Thoughts

Although sunburn is a significant issue that can result in long-term damage, it's crucial to realise that your succulents can benefit from a small amount of sun stress. Your succulents' colours may deepen or perhaps totally shift as a result of stress. Your garden can appear more vivid than ever with a little stress!

Don't be too dismayed if you accidentally exposed your plants to too much sun or overstressed them intentionally. It's not always easy to care for succulents with how busy life can be, and sometimes you have to learn the hard way. Although there may not be much you can do for sunburned succulents, you can learn from the situation and improve your ability to protect them from sunburn in the future.