Sticky black “sap” on vanda buds

[guccisimo85]

While watering my vandas tonight I noticed one of them has a sticky black sap-like substance around some of its buds Pics attached below.

It doesn’t seem to be anywhere else on the plant, just around the buds / on the spike. I can’t seem to find any visible bugs on it. I did spray it with diluted physan today, but I did it early in the morning and let them dry all day.

Any ideas what it could be and how I can go about treating it? Is this just honeydew that has oxidized?

I really don’t want it to spread to the other ones that are in spike!

Thanks for your help

[Ray]

I thinks that’s a black mold growing on the sugary exudate. If you can gently run water over the spike, it should slowly dissolve and be gone.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by guccisimo85

While watering my vandas tonight I noticed one of them has a sticky black sap-like substance around some of its buds Pics attached below.

It doesn’t seem to be anywhere else on the plant, just around the buds / on the spike. I can’t seem to find any visible bugs on it. I did spray it with diluted physan today, but I did it early in the morning and let them dry all day.

Any ideas what it could be and how I can go about treating it? Is this just honeydew that has oxidized?

I really don’t want it to spread to the other ones that are in spike!

Thanks for your help

Attachment 145037

Attachment 145038

It is perfectly normal for spikes and yong growths to secrete a sticky, sugary sap. It in itself isn't a problem, but like Ray said, it can make it easy for mold to grow in the sap. Ray's advice is spot on. Wash away the sticky, and you'll wash away the fungus or mold or whatever it is.

[guccisimo85]

Thank-you both so much! I gave it a soft rinse and voilá - it all dissolved!

I noticed afterwards that a couple of my other ones are doing the same thing, but it’s not growing anything so it’s clear and sticky. I guess they are happy!

[Roberta]

Actually not a bad idea to give buds a rinse when they have that sap, especially if it is heavy... I don't know if it's an issue for Vandas, I have had Laelias not open if they got stuck with sap. In nature, plants get watered from above (rain) so the sap doesn't build up. In captivity, they likely get watered in the medium and so that rinsing doesn't happen. Just want to do this when they have a chance to dry before it gets cold if that's an issue... cold and wet can lead to rot. If warm, won't stay wet very long.

[SouthPark]

It is true. Sap can sometimes glue shut a bud so that it can't open up.

[guccisimo85]

Oh, wow!

Originally Posted by SouthPark

It is true. Sap can sometimes glue shut a bud so that it can't open up.

[estación seca]

Where they're from, ants would be attracted to that sap, and quickly remove it to eat. The ants would protect the buds from bugs that might eat them. Or the rain would wash away the sap.