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Grittyville, WA

Is this a myth? The droplets act like a magnifying glass and burn the leaf?
Was thinking to myself that if its true then I should have seen it by now. I have not seen it before.

I have seen minute bits of undesolved fertilizer burn little holes.

[Last edit: 07/14/24 3:53:35 PM]

7/14/2024 3:52:57 PM

Germany

From a scientific point of view, the water drop would then have to act like an optical converging lens, whose focal point would have to coincide with the surface of the lens, because the surface of the lens rests on the leaf. Difficult to imagine. It would be different if you held the drop of water (shaped as a lens) over the leaf at a distance from the focal point. But who does something like that?

Other point of view: Lightning and heavy rain, followed by sunshine...that happens pretty often in summer time. Can´t believe that many leaves get spots of sunburn damage by those natural events.

7/14/2024 4:28:37 PM

Grittyville, WA

I have never heard anyone say its a steaming load of horse manure... but it must be?? How is it I dont know the truth about such a basic question.

7/14/2024 5:51:36 PM

Grittyville, WA

Bing says its bs... Now that thats resolved I can get back to feeding pepsi to my plants.

7/14/2024 5:57:29 PM

Germany

"its a steaming load of horse manure"...couldn´t have said it better :)

7/15/2024 12:51:31 AM

Syracuse, NY

I don't 'see' it happening on a frequent-enough basis since the water would have to be, as was said, in the shape of a lens under extraordinary circumstances. Howevs, I put a bottle of R*ich* a*nd R*a*r*e whiskey into my fridge months ago and the fridge light was focused onto the door into an acute spot of light from the whiskey bottle - I have heard of this happening at liquor stores from the sun and believe it fully, now. Further reading indicated that HAIRY leaves are susceptible to leaf burn in this fashion, butt the water will usually drip off or evaporate before any real damage occurs -
'Child me' was usually in TROUBLE before I got anything to burn memorably with a magnifying glass, lol!
eg

7/15/2024 1:00:31 AM

Bethlehem CT

I have always wondered this too, but have never conclusively seen it . It doesn't make much sense to me. How many sunshowers do they get in Texas and Florida? I would guess a lot! Therefore You should see plants getting toasted frequently down there, If this phenomonon was to occur, It would look like mother nature got diquat overspray on the leaves. Remember my story about the Easter Ham! Gardening is full of wives tales that are passed down from one person to the next. There are probably going to be people pissed off by what I am saying and are sure they have witnessed this phenomonon. I would venture to say perhaps there were other extenuating circumstances that played a factor too. Like perhaps the plant was transplanted recently and lost a lot of roots. Perhaps a shade loving plant that had always been in the shade suddenly finds itself in full sun.

7/15/2024 7:31:20 AM

Bethlehem CT

dale from Australia if you see this post I would love to hear your thoughts. Trust me... He is well qualified to speak on this one!

7/15/2024 7:32:38 AM

Kutztown, PA

If it were true then your entire plant would be destroyed after a brief rain followed by hot sun. But, maybe if a large enough amount of water was somehow cupped in a leaf and could not escape it might be heated by the sun enough to scald a leaf. I'm far more worried about the hot sun without the water. LOL

7/15/2024 11:27:57 AM

Grittyville, WA

Evaporation is going to negate any thermal traps. But I agree with bigmoon that there could be circumstances where people would notice damage on their leaves after watering. When I empty my watering can on a plant, if I have used any soluble fertilizer that last bit of water will often burn little holes in the leaves because invariably there's bits that havent dissolved, even if I stir it for awhile. There's probably other things, like spores or infections that can occur, that would cause spots. But plants seem to love a rainshower and then sun. Nevertheless, you'll hear still this thing about burning the leaves.

Thanks all.

7/15/2024 12:31:04 PM

Watlington, UK

It absolutely is a myth. After you read this you'll wonder why you ever even considered it!

https://www.gardenmyths.com/watering-plants-in-the-sun-do-water-droplets-damage-leaves/

7/15/2024 5:38:20 PM

Germany

Hi Gerald, great article, thank you for sharing. :) While reading through that contribution, I had the impression that I already summarized the contents in the three lines that I had written as the first comment to this thread.

7/16/2024 6:56:51 AM