Dew-like beads on phal spike

[Pilot]

Hi All--

I don't have a photo to share with you, but on one of my phals' spike there are beads of liquid on or about the flower stems and along the length of the spike. If you touch one, it is somewhat viscous and sticky if you rub it between your fingers.

I have an olive tree as well that does this some times...though I'm not sure why either plants would do this.

Any ideas?

[Keltera]

My spike on my Crispin Rosales has the dew drops aswell, iam also curius

[PitcherASAMD]

I've read on another orchidboard posting at some point that it's probably sap....Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it means your orchids are very happy!

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by PitcherASAMD

I've read on another orchidboard posting at some point that it's probably sap....Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it means your orchids are very happy!

Thanks for the post-- and I hope you're right. The sappy phal I speak of is throwing loads of new, bright green roots (and even some old roots are branching out rather profusely). It is my white phal (pictured in my gallery here on the forum) and its spike has begun growing again and several blooms will be open in a few days. It seems like a very robust plant. It is still too early to tell but I think I have even spotted two mittens low on the plant.

As for my olive tree-- I have noticed that when the plant is well watered, its hot outside and its getting plenty of sun, it forms dew on its leaf tips. It doesn't attracted bugs or anything.

I have searched for bugs on my phals but found nothing.

[Becky15349]

Its just happy sap - the orchid is sending sugar to the developing spike. Its common, nothing to be concerned about. You'll have nice blooms soon!!

[Keltera]

haha "no no really, its just sap of joy! iam not sad! really!" hehe thats all i could think of with "happy sap"

[Ray]

Go ahead and taste it (unless you've used a systemic insecticide) - it's some of the sweetest stuff around!

[greenhenry]

Hi all!
I have the same on my Dendrobium spikes-although it has just finished flowering. Took your advice Ray and yes-tis indeed sweet stuff!

[greenhenry]

P.S. Does this mean I will get some second blooms on my Dendrobium nobile this year?

[Pilot]

An update on my happy sap--

My white phal has been exploding with growth. Too many roots to even count and the spike has grown by another 6 inches or so-- so far three new blooms have opened and it looks like many more to come. The happy sad is all over the new part of the spike plus some on the old part. Its really incredible and so good to see that I can not only maintain but have a thriving orchid.

However, my happy sap tonight is on my purple phal that looks really sad has grown another spike and has its own happy sap. I have no idea if it is blooming itself to death or if the plant simply hasn't recovered its leaves (they look floppy and dehydrated) from the loss of most of its roots but the once aerial roots look healthy in the hydroton and I can only hope that they're doing their job and giving the plant a chance to survive.

So-- is it possible to have happy sap on a dying phal? Or can I take it as a sign the plant is/has rebound?

Woohoo for happy sap!