Plant Problem Diagnosis Key / Growing conditions

Growing conditions

Light bleaching

Light more intense than the plant can use damages the chlorophyll in the leaves closest to the source. Common under grow lights hung too low.

Leaf bleaching from strong light on a redbud
Leaf bleaching from strong light on a redbud Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Signs

What favors it

Lamps too close or too bright for the crop or stage; plants moved from shade into full sun.

Prevention

Often confused with

NutrientIron deficiency Growing conditionsHeat and light stress NutrientSulfur deficiency

Sources

Why →

Treatment by crop

Cultural, biological and chemical options in the order to use them, and notes written for each crop.

Identification is free. Treatment is on the Home and Pro plans.

Open in the key See plans

Questions in the key that lead here

  1. Look the plant over, leaf undersides included. Are insects, mites, slugs, eggs, webbing or droppings on it?
    No, only damage or discoloration
  2. Where is the problem?
    Leaves
  3. What does the leaf damage look like?
    Color change without distinct spots
  4. Where did the color change start?
    Across the whole plant, or in patches
  5. What does the change look like?
    Bleached or white at the top, nearest the lamp or sun

Not a match? Start the key or describe what you see.

More from university Extension: search Extension pages on light bleaching, or find a plant diagnostic lab through your state's Extension.

Other growing conditions

Something look wrong on this page? Tell us