The damage becomes noticeable gradually and at first glance is reminiscent of symptoms of an illness. Although cacti are sun worshipers, they can suffer from sunburn. Find out how to diagnose and treat the dilemma here.
How do you treat sunburn on cacti?
Sunburn on cacti appears as light, cream-colored spots on the epidermis. To limit the damage, affected cacti should be immediately moved to a partially shaded location and sprayed with an amino acid preparation. As a preventive measure, cacti can slowly be acclimated to the sun's rays.
How to recognize sunburn on cacti
Sunburn on cacti usually occurs in spring when the plants move to the balcony. The damage can be seen as light, cream-colored spots that appear on the previously green epidermis. In contrast to disease symptoms, the damaged areas do not spread further, but are initially limited to the region that is hit by the sun's rays.
If no countermeasures are taken, the affected cactus will cork and become woody. This not only affects the decorative appearance, but in the worst case scenario leads to the death of the entire plant.
Immediate action limits the damage – this is how it works
If you notice bright spots on your cacti, you need to take immediate action. The quicker and more consistently you take the following measures, the less damage there will be. This is how it works:
- Cacti with sunburn should be moved immediately to a partially shaded location
- Spray the entire epidermis with an amino acid preparation, such as AMN from Uhlig (€19.00 at Amazon)
This strategy will not heal the sunburnt regions. At least you reduce the damage and prevent a life-threatening escalation. The use of amino acids is recommended because it is a directly acting protein fertilizer. The cactus is strengthened and activates its natural healing powers to quickly overcome the weakening caused by sunburn.
How to effectively prevent sunburn
With a simple trick you can prevent your cacti from getting sunburned. First place the plants on the balcony in a partially shaded location for 8 to 10 days. Here you can get used to the sun's rays. In this respect, the epidermis of cacti reacts no differently than human skin.
In addition, we recommend extending the care program by spraying the cacti with an amino acid agent every 4 weeks from March to September.
Tip
The offshoots of cacti are particularly sensitive to sunshine. Therefore, always place the cultivation pots with cuttings in a partially shaded window seat on the west or east side of the house. Curtains or large plants also soften the sun's rays.
