Bananas are popular houseplants, although some varieties can even be planted in the garden. But be careful: the plant can get sunburnt from intense sunlight, especially immediately after purchase or after overwintering. Here's what you can do about it.
Can a banana get sunburn?
Of course, a banana can get sunburned if it is placedwithout an acclimation periodin a new locationwith stronger sunlight. This phenomenon mainly occurs after the winter break and with newly purchased plants. You can avoid the unsightly brown leaf spots byslow adaptation.
How do you recognize a sunburn on a banana?
You can recognize a sunburn on the banana bybrown, dried-looking leaves or leaf zones. Sometimes these can also take on a white color. Burns typically occur where the sun's rays are particularly intense. Examples are
- Plants directly behind a south-facing window
- leaves touching the window glass
- Plants on a sunny balcony or terrace
Such sunburn usually occurs after the plant has been moved to a new, more exposed location. But be careful: the brown leaves can also have other causes that should be examined before treatment.
How to treat banana sunburn?
Since the brown leaves do not turn green again, sunburn on the banana cannot be treated. Instead, cut off the offending leaves with clean, sharp scissors. Then proceed as follows:
- Place the banana in another, less sunny location.
- This should be bright, but not full sun.
- In the summer months, the intense midday sun can be particularly dangerous.
- Water the banana regularly and keep the substrate slightly moist.
- However, do not wet the leaves!
Can you prevent sunburn on a banana?
You can prevent sunburn on the banana by slowly getting the plant used to the new place when movingIn spring, do not move the banana plant directly to the desired location, but instead place it in a shady spot first. Gradually move the banana into the sun.
On hot summer days, it makes sense to shade the banana during lunchtime. On such days, the UV radiation can be so intense that sunburn is unavoidable.
Tip
Why can the banana still have brown leaves?
There are also numerous other reasons that can cause brown leaves on bananas. Possible causes include a spider mite infestation, a fungal disease or root rot caused by waterlogging, which causes a lack of supply to the leaves above ground.
