Indicators of Plants Getting Too Much Light

Bleached Look

• As plants take in too much sunlight, they begin to bleach. Leaves or blades of grass that were once a rich green fade to a washed-out yellowish green. This is a sign that the sunlight is breaking down the chlorophyll faster than the plant can produce more. It's a plant's version of sunburn -- though plants can also take on a slightly reddish tinge, particularly around their edges, when sunburned. You may notice the edges of leaves curling under, while new leaves grow in smaller due to too much light.

Leaf Scorch

• In extreme cases of sunburn, leaves develop dark spots where sunlight has scorched them. These spots often have yellow rings around them. Heat damage and a lack of water can exacerbate this leaf scorch. The brown spots sometimes have a charred appearance and feel brittle because the sun has dried out those areas. Eventually, the affected leaves die.

Sunscald

• Trees and shrubs often showcase sun damage on their bark. If you notice cracked bark or sunken-in areas, this is indicative of your plant receiving too much light. Wood-boring insects and rot fungal diseases target these areas, which can cause further damage to the already-weakened plant. If not shaded, the plant may develop cankers and eventually die.

Leaf Drop

• If you move a plant to a location that's sunnier than its previous place -- such as moving a houseplant outdoors -- it may drop leaves. This is because its leaves are suited only for low light, and the sunlight stopped their food production and threatened the overall health of the plant. To adjust to the new light intensity, the plant drops leaves and replaces them with leaves that can tolerate more sun. However, this is stressful for the plant; it's safer to gradually increase sun exposure if you plan on moving a plant to a much sunnier location.