Nectar? And other Phal questions - Orchid Board

cythaenopsis · #1 12-13-2011, 03:08 PM

On one of my phalaenopsis plants, I noticed a glistening globule on a couple of buds. I thought maybe it was water that collected from misting, but then I realized I hadn't misted the plant in a while. Touching it revealed it to be sticky, like a kind of nectar.

Is this normal? This plant didn't have this effect the last time it bloomed.

Also... the plant has a nice cluster of buds this time around, looking to be about 10 or so (one or two really small ones might not progress and stay as "mittens"). However, one of them is turning a brighter red than the deep purple/maroon of the others, and there's a slight sign of shriveling on it.

Darn it. I remember my other Phal lost a couple of buds a few weeks after I first brought it home, but this is a phal that has been in my home for over a year. The bud isn't huge, but at 5mm x 3mm, it's not the smallest either. All the others look perfectly healthy.

Is it true that sometimes a phal will produce a lot of buds and then decide to starve a couple of them, to provide more nutrients to the other buds? Kind of like overestimating anticipated growth and then cutting back? Or, did I not water the plant thoroughly enough?

johnblagg · #2 12-13-2011, 03:28 PM

orchids produce nectary glands along the stems belive it or not as well as in the blooms ...not the only plants that do this in fact mimosia trees do as well as passion flowers and others...forget the term for it but they are pretty common things ...a lot of growers call this happy sap since it is a good sign of conditions being right

Lagoon · #3 12-13-2011, 05:13 PM

I agree with John, much of this sap is normal, and sometimes its not normal.Take a quick check to see if you have any pests causing the moisture loss from the leaves. Mealies and spider mites can cause this sticky due also.

tucker85 · #4 12-13-2011, 05:37 PM

I agree, the little beads of clear sap is completely normal although I don't know what purpose it serves. The only thing it does for my plants is attract ants. As far as buds failing, that's another phenomenon that just happens sometimes no matter what you do. I find that it's often the same orchids each year that have buds fail. I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy your flowers.

cythaenopsis · #5 12-14-2011, 01:27 AM

Thanks John, Lagoon, and Tucker.

The leaves are doing fine and I'm pretty observant about pests (I got good at this when dealing with fungus gnats). A quick secondary check showed no signs of mites or any other critters. I'll just chalk it up to the plant being happy--it is parading a nice display of buds this time around, amazing considering the root rot and fungus gnat infestation it suffered this summer.

Based on the bud sizes, I'm expecting it'll start blooming around Christmas. That'll be a great holiday bonus.

cythaenopsis · #6 12-15-2011, 01:41 PM

Regrettably, I have to report that the "nectar" or "sap" I saw is apparently not a good sign.

In the two spots where I saw it forming, it was coming from the sockets of two buds that have died off. One fell off on it's own. The other came loose easily when I touched it, and then I just gently pulled it off. There was this sticky sap left behind. Thankfully no other buds are showing this. I guess the plant decided to cut back on a few, perhaps not having enough resources to fully bloom all the buds it had started. So, the sap may be a sign of nutrients having been cut off. I just hope it doesn't drop any more of them.

Merlyn · #7 12-15-2011, 02:26 PM

Did you taste it ? I taste any that I see ! You'll be surprised how good and sweet some of them are !!! I have one that's better than honey !!! It helps if you're a sugar junkie like me !!!

johnblagg · #8 12-15-2011, 03:17 PM

Actualy unless it had mechanical damage from bugs chewing or getting knocked about it is stiil not a bad sign, in fact means the plant is in good shape since the Necter would be produced in these areas naturally even if the buds were still there and the buds had already formed what are called abcission zones before the fell off unless they were knocked off physically by you or something else..

Dont fall into thinking orchids are super delicate and the least sign of sap is a problem for it is not, they are much tougher than we relise when we first get into keeping them and we tend to over do it trying to care for them and end up doing the damage ourselves more often than not trying to "cure" something that is not a problem.

silken · #9 12-16-2011, 10:31 AM

I get those 'happy sap' drops on many of my buds that do bloom out perfectly to flowers. Right now my cymbidium has them and one stalk has bloomed fully. Some of my catts get it too.

cythaenopsis · #10 12-16-2011, 04:28 PM

OK, I'll try not to worry.

It just had a bad association, that being the site of rejected buds... so, I didn't think it was something to be happy about. I've still got a lot to learn about orchids, and understanding how a plant rejects some buds as a means of providing more nutrients to the ones that will flower makes a lot of sense to me. I'd rather have fewer but healthier/larger blooms.