Sap on Buds
 

Howdy all! I have a question that I cannot find an answer to with my Google searches.

I have a Dendrobium spectabile that has three spikes with buds that, I expect, will be open by the end of October. I've included a pic of the buds' stage taken 2 days ago.

I was looking at the buds just now, and one or two looked wet. Since I mist them, I thought maybe it was water (from yesterday) that had not evaporated. When I touched it, though, it was sticky. Not water.

I have searched orchid sap, and I've found information on leaf sap, but nothing about sap on buds. I wasn't sure if this was indicative of blooming or a part of blooming or something else.

Plant is grown indoors. No apparent pests on it or any other plants. FYI, spots on leave are existing damage (presumably from the sun) from when I got it earlier this summer. No other sap observed on any other plants. It and Dendrobirum Stephen Batchelor x Nida (from same greenhouse -- Stephen Batchelor was almost dead) are displaying new growths with Stephen Batchelor growing a new pseudobulb.

Anyone know if this is typical for a Dendrobium spectabile, for it to have a little sap on its buds? Oh, and I had observed moisture on the buds a couple of weeks ago. It did not feel sappy, though, so I chalked it up to leftover moisture.

Thank you in advance.

Normal for a happy blooming orchid. Its colloquially called "happy sap".

That’s what I was hoping. My concern was it’s on the buds not on leaves, like I’ve read.

If buds versus leaves is a non issue, then I’ll just love my happy sap.

It’s been oddly satisfying to have “Spec” (Dendrobirum spectabile”. I name them.) it feels like the plant is “grateful”, like I rescued it. Or maybe I just have an active imagination. :D

Fine and normal on buds. I don't know about Den spectabilie, but on my L. anceps, they need to get the buds wet so that the sap doesn't glue them shut. (In nature they get rained on so it isn't an issue) Maybe spray them with clear water occasionally to keep that sap soft. People who grow this species, please jump in with YOUR experience! I don't have the problem with very many things, but I do mostly overhead watering.

Roberta, that’s a great thought. I know this orchid is my biggest one (at least 2 feet tall), and, with it in bud, I am being very diligent in checking water and misting it. I’m, in fact, misting it and the buds and pseudobulbs at least once daily. Being a Dendrobirum, too, I want to make sure its water needs are met.

I suggest not misting orchids. They don't take up any water through leaves nor stems. It doesn't raise humidity around the plant for any significant length of time. It does promote fungal attack.

I do thoroughly wet all surfaces of my plants every 1-3 weeks to prevent spider mite outbreaks.

You can rinse the sugary exudate off close to blooming time.