How To Avoid Sunburn ?

[rich63]

I have moved some of my catts. back onto the front porch,which gets about 3 1/2 hours of direct sunlight.What is the best way to keep the leafs from getting burnt? Today is the move out date. I really don't want to do any damage. Thanks,Rich

[Ron-NY]

filter the sunlight with curtain material or shadecloth. How bright were you growing them for the winter? What time of the day does the porch get it's sun? You could move them into bright shade and gradually increase.

[rich63]

I had the plants under 4- t5 lights about 1" above the plants.My porch is facing east.There is a large oak tree that does filter the sunlight until 11:30 am.Then they will be in direct sunlight until about 1:00 pm.I just tooks some photos.The plants hanging off the railing are the new plants to the outdoors.The higher plants have been outdoors. Thanks,rich

[Ron-NY]

hard to shade them in their location. You may just want to keep them further back on the porch and gradually move them into more sun over the course of the next couple of weeks.

[wetfeet101b]

Transitioning them from fluorescent lamps to sunlight would be harsh if not done slowly.
Most artificial lamps do not emit as much UV rays as sunlight. It is mostly the UV rays that cause the physical burns on the plants, not the visible light intensity itself.

You will need to give the plants enough time to "harden" to sunlight, specially those that sprouted while under artificial lamps.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

hard to shade them in their location. You may just want to keep them further back on the porch and gradually move them into more sun over the course of the next couple of weeks.

Hi Rich,

I agree with Ron and John on this one. Put them on the inside of your porch. You will need to gradually let them into the sunlight. They will burn quickly. You should be able to feel the heat in the leaves when they are getting too hot. When you put your hand into the sunlight being cast upon your plant, you do not want a sharp shadow, but rather a fuzzy edged shadow. This means the light is being filtered.

Good luck!

Cheers,
BD