Nectar? And other Phal questions

[wuness]

I agree with all those who say nectar outside the flower is normal. tucker85 hit the nail on the head. Nectar sources on various parts of the plant near the flower do attract ants and that's the function. johnblagg also had it right. In nature many plants use nectar to attract ants. Peony buds, for example, also use nectar for the same purpose.

Everyone knows what a powerful force a colony of ants can be. By attracting ants to the nectar, wild orchids use them to protect the flower from other organisms (primarily insects) that would eat or otherwise damage the flower. It's an example of quid pro quo. Possible culprits would include beetles, thrips and a host of other herbivorous insects.

I wouldn't say it's necessarily a sign of a "happy" orchid so much as orchids doing their thing. In my view, it's a genetic vestige from the "wild" past of your domestic orchids. Few people realize how important ants are in nature. The evolutionary relationships between ants and plants, particulary in the tropics, is fascinating.

wuness