Sap drops under leaves or where blooms meet inflor.

[nogreenthumbs]

I've noticed that my new GramCym Mem. Nathan Newman 'NN' has sap drops that collect at the blooms or where the blooms meet the inflorescence or just at random spots underneath the leaves.

Is there any significance to the drops? Are they a sign of health or stress or an issue of some sort? Or are they just what they are with no major significance either good or bad?

I think they may have been there when I bought it (I've only had it about a week and a half). But they do seem to grow. I know that plants normally transpire, but I'd like to see if this is normal to see the results in orchids. Also, it looks like pretty little water drops, but if I touch it or grab a bit with a Q-tip, it's much more thick and viscous than water. the drops are so small, I'm not sure if it's thick and sticky or thick and slippery. Considering where I'm finding them, I tend to believe that they have been created by the plant and are not something that was applied before I purchased it, but I could easily be wrong about that.

I did notice my Catt Lc 'Ruby Lip' had a couple of tiny drops on the end of a new growth about 1" long today when I got home.

[estación seca]

A lot of orchids do this. One hypothesis is the sugary sap may attract ants, which might protect the flowers from flower-eaters.

[nogreenthumbs]

OK, so normal and at least relatively healthy.

Hope you're staying cool. I hear it's too hot for some planes to fly there the past few days.

[estación seca]

Thanks!

We tied a record yesterday, 118 F / 48C 5th hottest temperature recorded here. We beat a record today, 119 F / 48+C, 4th hottest temperature recorded here. Tomorrow will be cooler than today, but still likely to beat the record for tomorrow. Our all-time high was 122 F / 50C on June 26, 1990.

The planes were grounded because they aren't certified to fly at these temperatures. I would guess this is because there's not much opportunity to test them at these temperatures. I suspect they would fly just fine.

[DeaC]

I've read that these "dew drops" are termed guttation and imply that growing conditions are optimum.I'd never win any awards for my plants but having noticed it on a few of mine, I'm excited when it occurs.

[Leafmite]

When I see sap, I always check just to make certain there are no mealy bugs or scale. If not, all is well.

[nogreenthumbs]

Great, thanks all.

Interesting. Seems Guttation happens mostly at night and in cool weather when the stomata are closed. It's due to adequate water causing root pressure, and generally does not occur when the water conditions are inadequate and therefore doesn't cause wilting, whereas transpiration can occur under deficient water conditions and cause wilting.

At least, that's what I got from the 'Net on it. Learning something new (or possibly forgotten from Jr HS) is always a good thing.