Jules Park
I moved my burgundy rubber plant closer to a south-facing window because it had been leaning and getting a little sparse. A week later, two leaves have dry brown patches near the edges. The patches are not mushy and they do not have yellow halos.
The plant is about three feet from the glass, but the afternoon sun hits that area harder than I realized. I have watered once since moving it. The rest of the plant looks fine.
Does this sound like sunburn, or should I be thinking disease?
Priya N.
Dry tan or brown patches after a light change often point to sunburn, especially if they are on the leaves facing the window. Disease usually keeps spreading in a different pattern.
Theo M.
Move it back a bit or add a sheer curtain. Damaged patches will not heal, so judge the fix by whether new spots stop appearing.
Lucia Chen
Check the exact path of the sun for a day. South windows can be gentle in one season and much stronger in another. Three feet is not always the same amount of light.
Ben Ortiz
A cheap light meter app can help compare the old spot and new spot. It will not be perfect, but it can show you when you made a bigger jump than you thought.
Dee Walker
Rubber plants like light, but they still need time to adjust. I move mine closer in steps instead of one big move.
Miguel A.
Make sure the soil is not staying wet while the plant is stressed. Light burn and soggy roots are separate problems, but they love showing up together after a move.
