Is it normal for your orchids to sap?

[Abel-Purete]

I've noticed that my orchids have been sapping a bit. May Phal is sapping on the stem and a bit on the leaves and my Oncidium is sapping by the flowers. Is that normal??

[Subrosa]

Yes it is. One of my Catasetum is currently producing enough to use on my pancakes at breakfast. In all seriousness, as long as you aren't using chemicals on the plants, you should taste it.

[Abel-Purete]

I'm no fan of chemicals. ^^; That's great to know. I was a bit worried there. Lol Thanks; its good to know.

[wuness]

Many orchids (and some other plants, e.g., peonies) are programmed to exude a sweet sap from parts of the plants other than the inside of the flower. The purpose of this sap is to attract ants which use the sap as an energy source. In return, the ants protect the orchid from insect pests that feed on the orchids. On my orchids, I often see sap (many refer to it as "happy sap") along the spike and at the base of the individual flower stems. This is exactly where you would want the ants to gather in order to protect the flower, the reproductive future of the plant. The sap you see is a genetic holdover from the orchid's ancestors.

wuness

[bil]

Yeah. My greenhouse has finally been recognised as a home from home by the ants. Today there are columns of them moving in carrying eggs and young larvae up to the penthouse appartments where the dendrobiums hang from the roof. Interestingly, they stand ferocious guard over the new shoots on the Catts, and they pack small bits of bark all round the base of the new shoots.
My hard cane dens are the ones that sweat the most honeydew, dozens and dozens of quite large drops up the flower spikes.

[greensinthegarden]

MissOrchidGirl on Youtube actually just recently uploaded a video about sap on orchids. =)

[Abel-Purete]

Thanks a lot. And yeah I usually watch her videos. XD