Sunburn on pothos
What's Happening
Sunburn on pothos leaves manifests as irregular brown spots or crispy patches when shade-adapted tropical foliage receives direct sunlight exposure. Unlike root rot which causes uniform yellowing, sunburn creates localized necrotic tissue damage from UV radiation and photooxidative stress. The damage is permanent as destroyed leaf cells cannot regenerate.
How to Fix It
- 1
Relocate plant immediately away from direct sun to bright indirect light location
- 2
Trim affected brown/crispy areas with sterile scissors to improve aesthetics and prevent spread
- 3
Increase humidity to 60-70% to support stressed tissue recovery
- 4
Monitor for 1-2 weeks—new growth should emerge without burn marks if light corrected
- 5
Expect 4-6 weeks for full visual recovery after foliage replacement
What You'll Need
How to Prevent It
Position pothos in bright indirect light only (1500-3000 lux); avoid south/west facing windows without sheer curtains; acclimate gradually when moving to brighter locations over 7-10 days; use UV-filtering window film on intense light exposures; maintain adequate humidity to support leaf recovery from minor light stress.
Related Problems
Same Problem on Other Plants
Go Deeper
This is covered in-depth in the pothos Mastery Pack — structured modules with video walkthroughs, advanced protocols, and rescue timelines.
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