Happy sap! Which species/hybrid produces the most sweet sticky liquid for you?

[LordofAnts]

Probably a bit of an unconventional question, but what orchid produces the most hondeydew/extrafloral nectar/happy sap for you guys?

And if you can elaborate, where are the excretions situated and under what conditions? During blooming? Perhaps when a particular plant is overwatered? Or is sap emitted in small amounts on the leaves?

My ultimate goal is to find a readily available species or hybrid that produces this stuff in copious quantities—and perhaps most importantly—in a reliable and constant flow. Hopefully such a plant would be easily reared in an indoor situation and not require tons of light (i.e. natural sunlight intensity) and/or specific environmental conditions hard to provide at basic room temperatures with artificial lighting. If nectar is produced during blooming, frequent bloomers would be a plus. Any personal experience on this matter, no matter how scant, would be greatly appreciated.

And for those wondering ”Why?”: it’s to feed ants! Specifically captive reared colonies (and not those particularly pesky greenhouse species!) who could greatly benefit from a natural and nutritious food source. After all, these sorts of extrafloral secretions are more than just sugar and water; they contain a specific blend of particular sugars as well as trace amino acids usually tailored for the attraction of ants during vulnerable periods, who provide valuable protection (especially for reproductive structures: flowers!) against herbivores of all sorts. Anybody who’s observed tropical orchids in the wild can certainly attest to the ever-present guard of ants patrolling on orchids, especially those in bloom!

[Paphluvr]

My Ascocenda Su-Fun Beauty would fit the bill. Sap all along the flower spike at the base of each flower and it blooms several times/yr. You would have to have a greenhouse full of plants with similar habits to supply your ants though I'm afraid.

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by Paphluvr

My Ascocenda Su-Fun Beauty would fit the bill. Sap all along the flower spike at the base of each flower and it blooms several times/yr. You would have to have a greenhouse full of plants with similar habits to supply your ants though I'm afraid.

All my vandas produce happy sap on their spikes, like paphluvr I think you would need a large number of them to get anything substantial to feed the ants.

[yug]

Some of the Myrmecophila orchids attract ants, but I don't know if it is sap or some other reason.

[BrassavolaStars]

For me, the bifoliate Cattleyas do this. I have had sheaths completely covered in sap appear. Those plants did end up covered in ants. I ended up with always a marching trail of ants around the greenhouse that was hundreds strong. I don’t like this though because they sometimes allegedly farm aphids.

I agree though that it is probably not enough to feed a colony of ants. Mine were traveling from some colony in the yard to the greenhouse carrying larvae and then returning back from where they came from.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:10 PM ----------

Originally Posted by yug

Some of the Myrmecophila orchids attract ants, but I don't know if it is sap or some other reason.

I believe the ants actually live in the pseudobulbs of these plants.