Happy sap, honeydew

[Steven0617]

Dear All
I am a scientist and very interested in figuring out what substances in the orchid happy sap (honeydew).
I wonder whether anybody would help me collect a little bit for my analysis.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best!
Steve

[Steven0617]

Got no response, anybody would be able to collect some happy sap for me?
I can pay for it.
Steve

[Shadeflower]

Can't help I live in europe but I know how difficult it is to collect the happy sap. Some orchids produce it more than others, some only produce it at a certain time of the year and even when they produce it is is one or two drops, more ant sized drops than human sized drops.

They taste very sweet, each one has its own aroma but it is so sweet that is pretty much all one can taste. It has the consistency of honey and is very similar to honey but does not taste like honey, more a flowery sugar.

I can tell you that any sample will be so small it will get stuck to a toothpick more than any sample bottle you want to transfer it to. Very tricky to do.

[Diane56Victor]

I'm in Australia, so difficulty in sending it to you would be an understatement.
As a suggestion maybe a local club or nursery would either collect it for you or enable you to collect it. Some interesting logistics there given Shadeflower's post.
It would be interesting to find out exactly what it is, and maybe if the ingredients change with the genus.
If you do find out what it consists of I hope you make a post here.
Good luck.

[Steven0617]

Thank you so much for Diane56Victor and Shadeflower's kind replies, I will try to find some in the US, and definitely will post what I find from the research. Mostly importantly let people know whether the Happy sap are safe to east

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Steven0617

Thank you so much for Diane56Victor and Shadeflower's kind replies, I will try to find some in the US, and definitely will post what I find from the research. Mostly importantly let people know whether the Happy sap are safe to east

I see the stuff most often when a really healthy plant is actively growing, most often on flower spikes.

As to the safe to eat (I assume that was a typo) part, my 50 years of tasting it would suggest it is safe, but I suppose the use of pesticides, particularly systemic and translaminar ones, will affect that.

I’ll keep my eyes open for some. How about sharing your preferred collection method in advance?

[DirtyCoconuts]

where are you located?

[fishmom]

Yes, where are you located? If you could locate a few orchid growers who are close to you, and provide them with collection materials, then grabbing a tiny bit when it appears would not be much of a chore. How much do you think you would need? it comes in drops, so any collection will be pretty small.


I have a few drops on dendrobium and phal spikes now.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Steven0617

Dear All
I am a scientist and very interested in figuring out what substances in the orchid happy sap (honeydew).
I wonder whether anybody would help me collect a little bit for my analysis.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best!
Steve

I'm assuming you don't have any orchids to collect it. It's never too late to start.

[Steve83]

My B. Little Stars is producing some right now. It will be up in flower count too.

drip.jpg - Google Drive

Have you asked your local AOS chapter for assistance?