Fading color or variegation on houseplants

Reddish or brown leaves

Likely cause
Sun stress from a sudden move into strong light.

What to do
Normal in moderation, but acclimate it gradually rather than moving it into full sun overnight.

Silver markings dulling

Likely cause
Not enough light to hold the contrast.

What to do
Move it to brighter indirect light; new leaves come back patterned.

Fading patterns or pale leaves

Likely cause
Too much direct sun bleaching the markings.

What to do
Move it to medium-to-bright indirect light, out of any direct rays.

Colours washing out

Likely cause
Too little light dulls it; harsh midday sun bleaches it. Both directions cost you color.

What to do
Bright indirect light with gentle morning sun gives the strongest tones.

Colors fading to plain green

Likely cause
Not enough light. The reds and yellows need strong light to develop.

What to do
Give it the brightest spot you have, including some direct sun.

Variegated ivy turning green

Likely cause
Too little light.

What to do
Move it to brighter indirect light to keep the markings.

Variegation fading to plain green

Likely cause
Too little light for it to keep the cream markings.

What to do
Give it brighter indirect light; the new growth will come back variegated.

Turning red, brown, or bleached

Likely cause
Sun stress. Haworthias want bright indirect light, not the blasting sun other succulents enjoy.

What to do
Move it out of direct midday sun; the color recovers over a few weeks.

Stems going pale or yellowish

Likely cause
Too much direct sun.

What to do
Move it to bright indirect or dappled light.

New leaves have no splits or holes

Likely cause
Young plant or too little light — fenestration needs maturity and bright light.

What to do
Be patient and move it to brighter indirect light; splits arrive as it matures.

Vein color washing out

Likely cause
Too much direct sun.

What to do
Move it to medium indirect light, out of direct rays.

Stripes fading out

Likely cause
Too much direct sun bleaching the pattern.

What to do
Medium to bright indirect light, out of direct rays.

Red leaf edges fading to plain green

Likely cause
Not enough direct sun — the red is a sun response.

What to do
Several hours of direct light brings the blush back.

White pinstripes disappearing

Likely cause
Too little light, or the plant reverting — Birkin is an unstable sport and can revert to plain green or all-cream.

What to do
Give it bright indirect light. Prune a fully reverted stem back to a well-striped node.

New leaves coming in all green

Likely cause
Reverting — usually too little light, and it will keep going if you let it.

What to do
Move it to bright indirect light and prune back to a node with strong pink; the next growth usually follows the cut.

Spots fading to green

Likely cause
Not enough light to sustain the pink freckling.

What to do
Give it bright indirect light; the color returns on new growth.

Washed-out markings

Likely cause
Direct sun bleaching the pattern.

What to do
Move it out of direct rays into medium indirect light.

Variegated forms turning plain

Likely cause
Not enough light to sustain the pattern.

What to do
Brighter indirect light. Prune back to variegated growth if a stem reverts entirely.

Silver speckling fading

Likely cause
Too little light to hold the markings, or too much sun bleaching them.

What to do
Medium to bright indirect light is the sweet spot.

Pale, washed-out leaves

Likely cause
Too much direct sun scorching them.

What to do
Move it back from the window to bright indirect light.

The flat shield frond turning brown

Likely cause
Completely normal. The shield browns, hardens, and becomes the plant's anchor.

What to do
Leave it alone — never peel it off. New green shields grow over the old.

New leaves losing the dolphin shape

Likely cause
Not enough light; it reverts to plain rounded leaves.

What to do
Bright light with some gentle direct sun restores the shape on new growth.

Silver marbling fading to plain green

Likely cause
Too little light.

What to do
Brighter light restores the contrast, and often brings out pink tones too.

Turtle pattern fading

Likely cause
Not enough light — the markings need good light to develop.

What to do
Bright indirect light. New leaves come in patterned; old ones stay plain.

Pink variegation fading

Likely cause
Not enough light to hold the color.

What to do
Bright indirect light — but never direct sun, which scorches it.

Pink and red tones fading to green

Likely cause
Not enough light to sustain the pigment.

What to do
Bright indirect light with a little gentle morning sun brings the color back on new leaves.

Purple or striped color fading to green

Likely cause
Not enough light.

What to do
Bright indirect light with some gentle morning sun brings the color back on new growth.

Stripes looking dull

Likely cause
Not enough light.

What to do
Medium to bright indirect light brings the contrast back on new leaves.