Looks like they've been sun-burned to me. I'd cut the burned parts off and move what's left to a less sunny area and hope for the best.

One hundred percent correct....a major case of sunburn.

Is that potting medium a GARDEN soil or a potting medium? It looks like a garden soil, which is not generally used in containers. Just wondering!

I'd say they sun scorched also.

Whenever you take your houseplants outside from their cushy, protected home (your house), always aclimate them first. Most don't like to be put right in the sunshine because it's too intense.

You figure most houseplants are tropical and in tropical areas they are most likely understory plants, protected from direct sun from the towering trees above. I'm no expert, but I've read quite a bit here in garden web and books to confidently state this. :)

good luck, they will most likely come back. Just keep watering when they need it and give the poor things some shade!

The pigment chlorophyll is a key part of the photosynthetic process and is produced in direct proportion to the amount of sun a plant receives. Chlorophyll is also nature's sunscreen for plants. If a plant is suddenly subjected to radically increased photo-exposure, there will be insufficient amounts of chlorophyll in plant cells to protect the plant from harmful UV rays. It's normal for chlorophyll production to lag exposure by several days, which is why exposure to increased sunlight must be gradual to prevent sunburn.

Al

As well, the cheap potting soil is likely peaty (at best!) and muck at worst, and is holding too much water for too long for those plants - the ferns are doing ok because they like water, of course. You need Miracle-Gro soil, and the addition of a LOT of perlite, chicken grit, very small aquarium gravel, etc. to make the soil fast draining, but now that you've done what's done, it may be either too late to matter, or a bad idea to repot again right away.

They do look sunburned actually. We've brought the affected plants inside by a window so they will hopefully recover. As for the soil, it is potting soil, but in no way a quality brand. I have used the miracle gro soil before, but mostly just for newer plants. These have been alive for about 7 months and I didn't think a cheap brand would bother them.

I'll post updates in about a week on how they're re-adjusting :)

The damage you posted is not soil-related. That is not to say that the soil you are using doesn't look as though it is already compacted - it does, but the soft tissue damage you are picturing is (as nearly all note) the result of photooxidation (sunburn).

Al

Hi Eric,

I certain; concur with the others that sun damage are the observable symptoms and immediate problem here. The damaged leaves will not recover, but new growth should be okay if it is not exposed to excessive light and the rots remain healthy.

However, you may have some additional problems because of something else that you did. Replacing or rinsing off soil is an extreme measure that is rarely justified. It is the fine root hairs that do most of the important work. They are often damaged when all or most of the soil is removed and replaced. Your plants will be in a fragile state until those root hairs grow back. If the quality of the soil is poor and lacking adequate porosity, then that will make recovery even more problematic. Finally, if they are now in larger pots, that will also increase the possibility of root rot as it will take longer for the soil to dry out appropriately in between waterings.

Will Creed,
Indoor landscaper