Check out this pic...

[patrickj]

See that? See those little moisture droplets on the spike? I didn't put those there! I do not mist this guy. This vanda isn't outside. I soak it about every single day. How and why did those form?

Just thought I'd show you guys. Oh its a Pakchong blue. Vanda.





This guy likes a good bit of light I find. More than any other vanda.

[isurus79]

Those are small droplets of Vanda blood.... most people call it sap! I guess those droplets are sweet because on my plants (which are outside), they are usually covered in ants. Next time you see them, touch them and they should be a little more sticky than plain water!!

[Magnus A]

That perfectly normal patrickj.
The plant is producing more sugar than it can use and get rid of it this way. I see it on healthy cattleya´s all the time! One bad thing though is that these little sweet drops attracts bugs! Just carefully wipe them away with some damp cloth.


/Magnus

[Ray]

I think it's part of the plant's attempt to attract pollinators.

[allaKAZAAM]

...Up on some Cattleyas, they produce this for Ants in particular. To help attract them to clean off any unwanted parasitic bugs. This is the reward that the plant gives them for this service.

allaKAZAAM

[fyschebone]

I was rotating one of my potted Catts and some of the sap got on the window. I wiped it off the window with a finger, got brave, and tasted it. Almost as sweet as honey, although I can't really imagine that an exotic ant diet is healthy or safe for humans...