Vanilla.. Um... HELP!

[Otterinaround]

Um chocolate tree?..... as in cocoa bush?..... as in you chew the leaves like the Inca and... GET HIGH?
Now LEAFMITE... that could be something quite serious.

[Otterinaround]

Updates from indoors. After a great deal of huffing and puffing.. some back breaking... and casters... all due to preventative measures before cold front blew through.. I blame Sandy....
Betsy was moved indoors.
Her soil remains moist... the pebbles in her saucer seem moist... I noticed something strange...

Betsy is producing a very watery substance from her apical bud. To investigate I put a dab of tissue into the area (which is basically a little well of fluid) and found water... There isn't a distinct smell that I can sense. There has been no misting or watering in this area... My question is why and what could it be?

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[Leafmite]

I grow Theobromo cacao (not cocoa). At first glance, it can be confusing...that is why I hesitate to use the scientific name. I love to collect unusual plants but I am most interested in those with fragrant leaves or that produce fragrant flowers or fruit. Rather dull, I know, but at least it is a step above collecting rocks...my other hobby from childhood.
I don't know why you are finding water but I tend to use alcohol to prevent rot if I have reason to worry.

[Otterinaround]

It's BACK!!! Not a couple hours and the water is BACK! This is going to drive me NUTS! I SWEAR I didn't get a drop of water near the apex. I've been watching this closely and I can't tell WHERE in the region it's coming from...I'd whip out a camera and take a HIGH QUALITY shot but... It just looks like a little cup of water. I tried dabbing the tip with a kleenex and every 10 seconds THERE WOULD BE ONE MORE DROP WATER in the tip! WHAT IS THIS STUFF?!??!

[Leafmite]

This is indoors, right? No other plants above, no leaves above, the roof isn't leaking, you don't have kids that like to water plants, a leaky pipe, a male dog...?

[Otterinaround]

Nothing will fit above her. BETSY is HUGE! I moved her indoors over two weeks ago. There is no source of water anywhere near this apical growth. I couldn't pee that high if I was on a ladder,let alone some Great Dane or airborne dachshund.

[Leafmite]

I have never seen this on mine and can't imagine what it might be. I hope someone else will know. Wow. Good luck!

[Otterinaround]

Updates...the water fountain from the apical bud seems to have slowed. I did notice a huge sagging large loop of stem that at its widest measures 3/8 inch (1 cm) this section is higher than the apical bud. I wonder if some sort of siphon has been set up.

The apical bud had rocketed up in position something like 10 inches (25cm) so maybe this water powered ratcheting allows for bridging sections of tree limbs for upward progression.

Any thoughts on my weirdo theory?

[lepetitmartien]

Is it at least slightly sticky? It may be just sap. If so, I wouldn't bother, save removing the stuff to prevent fumagine to start.

Don't try to taste it, as Vanilla sap is irritant and allergenic.

I've never had this on mine btw.

Difficult to envision your bridges and hoops without a pic.

Are you sure there's no local condensation right up the vanilla, and drops going down?

[Otterinaround]

I drew in an approximate location of the tip last night I watered as usual this morning with a mist on the lower 1/3-1/4 of the trellis. (I wanted to thank you for advice concerning making sure this plant does not go pure epiphyte to avoid problems of maintaining humidity. lepetitmartien)

For reference the 5th leaf from the bottom gets water and then nothing higher.

Also the looping idea is BRILLIANT for keeping this plant compact as stretched out this thing would be at least 18 feet (6 meters) tall.

I noticed the water has stopped nearly completely now the bud is higher. At no time did I ever see any sap on the plant in that region and the consistency of the fluid was VERY VERY RUNNY. There was no odor, not slime, no stickiness... just a watery feel.