Light is essential for growing healthy cannabis plants, but too much of it can be a serious problem.

The key is catching light burn early, within the first few days of symptoms showing up.

But what does light burn actually look like, and how can you stop it in its tracks?

Read on to learn how to identify, prevent, and treat cannabis light burn, keeping your plants in top shape.

Light burn happens when your plants are exposed to intense light for too long, leading to bleached leaves, stunted growth, and reduced yields.

You’ll notice something’s wrong with your crops when the leaves sitting directly under a grow light begin to appear yellow.

They may even turn a little crisp and start pointing upward, but the veins will remain green. The leaves near your light will most likely be paler and lighter in hue than the leaves farthest from the light source.

Unfortunately, a full recovery from light burn just isn’t possible. Once your plant’s leaves are bleached, the damage is permanent, and that lush, healthy green won’t come back.

When leaves are burned to the point where they can no longer photosynthesize, they lose their ability to produce energy. Light burn destroys the chlorophyll in the affected leaves, which is essential for the plant’s growth and energy production. Damaged leaves won’t heal or regrow, and they won’t be replaced by new ones.

So, what does this mean for your plant?

While your cannabis plant can still grow, the overall health, bud development, and even characteristics like aroma may be affected. Light burn can stunt its full potential, leaving it less vibrant than it once could have been.

Caught some light burn on weed leaves?

There are ways to help them recover, even if those bleached leaves are beyond saving.

1. First off, move your lights further away from the plants. You want to give your crop some breathing room from that intense exposure. A good rule of thumb is to keep lights at least 18–24 inches away from the canopy. LED lights, in particular, can be sneaky in how much damage they can do, so check your distance carefully.

2. Prune away the most damaged leaves. These won’t recover, so removing them helps your plant focus energy on healthier growth. Don’t go overboard, trim what’s absolutely necessary.

3. Adjust the light cycle if needed. If your plants are getting too much light, consider reducing the time they’re under the grow lights.

Check temperature and humidity levels to make sure they’re not too high, as stressed plants are more vulnerable to light burn. A little extra TLC in this stage goes a long way in helping your plants thrive again.