How to stop Phal from secrete "happy sap"?

[The Mutant]

Weird question, I know.

Is there any way to do this without having to start mistreating the Phal? My three-spiker seems to have liked being re-potted because since then it has been very busy drooling (what I call "happy sap"). It secretes so much I have to wipe the leaves daily since the sap is a breeding ground for fungus and also, since my unwanted pets like to drink it (small, non-harmful flies that came with the medium).

Should I maybe water it less? Could I do that without it suffering? Could this amount of secretion actually be a sign of some bug invasion? The sap is secreted from the edges of the leaves and drips down onto those below.

I like it a lot since it's such a happy camper, but I would prefer it to be a less sticky happy camper...

I'll toss in a picture only because it's such a nice looking NoID (I tried to take some photos of the sap, but it was impossible).

[Bud]

Its not that grave: I just bring it to the sink and handspray it all off. Sap is a happy sign about my Phals...It is also a great concern for me to have the sap attract bugs...I dont allow bugs in my apartment they immediately get nuked...LOL

[Pelepel]

I wonder what it would taste like on pancakes? LOL

My Oncidium Sherry Baby goes crazy and spikes beautiful, chocolate (it smells like a candy bar in my living room when it blooms) scented blooms but yes, that sappy issue. Some stray ant decided it looked delicious and let its buddies know which resulted in me having to cut it early. They couldn't resist.

I'm not quite sure as it is indeed the sign of a happy orchid kid. I would say the only true way would be to cut the spikes early. But they are soooo pretty!

[The Mutant]

Hmm... Haven't thought about that. Maybe I could make a fortune collecting the sap and sell it as "gourmet syrup - for the true connoisseur".


The problem is, I don't want to handspray it all off 'cause I would still have to do it every day. Wiping seems a much gentler way of doing it (this guy is a bit finicky I believe so I don't want to disturb it too much), but thanks for the suggestion Bud.

Cutting the spikes wouldn't solve anything since it's drooling from the foliage. I have three other droolers, but they are good Phals and secrete from the spikes and nowhere near as much as this one.

So, it seems the only thing to do is to continue wiping off its leaves and letting it keep secreting its happy sap.

[lily99]

Some of my orchids ooze sap on the spikes near the flowers, so I can't wipe off the sap without risking damaging the blooms. I put out yellow sticky traps for the flies. I wonder how many orchids you would need to have in order to collect enough sweet sap for pancakes or toast? I told my son that I wasn't sure the sap was safe to eat since I didn't want him licking my plants.

[Ray]

I really don't understand the desire to get rid of something that is indicative of a healthy, happy plant - or even less, to want to change the culture to hinder it.

Just wanted to mention that seing sticky substance on my ascocenda leaves did lead me to discovering brown scale on the leaves and blooms later on, but I guess that it was not the sap from the spike.
Although I don't know the difference in the saps.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by orchideya

Just wanted to mention that seing sticky substance on my ascocenda leaves did lead me to discovering brown scale on the leaves and blooms later on, but I guess that it was not the sap from the spike.
Although I don't know the difference in the saps.

Good point!

The sticky stuff that exudes from flower spikes, and occasionally leaf edges, is fine, but if the leaves get a coating of sticky stuff, especially on the undersides, it is indicative of an insect problem - often a precursor to scale. I assume it's something from the juvenile stages.

[Merlyn]

Another point, not all happy sap is sweet !!! I KNOW because I test taste them all !!!!!!!!!! My Catasetum Spotted Dragon has the happy sap that I would LOVE to have LOTS of !!!!!

[Bud]

if ants are a problem: place the pot in a wider basin with water to form a moat...like a humidity tray
but flying bugs will still get at it...
wiping five leaves is not a chore...