two questions - Orchid Board

Daemos · #1 04-15-2008, 07:32 AM

I was just wondering two things.

1.) What on earth is that sticky fluidal sweet tasting (yes I know I am sick in my mind, I tasted it) secretion coming out of the flowerspike.

2.) What are the effects on vanda plants when the direction of the lightsource is being changed??

Bird Song Farm · #2 04-15-2008, 02:35 PM

Question #1. Common name is "honey dew". It's a good sign your plant is healthy and happy.

Can't help with #2.
Al

Tindomul · #3 04-15-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daemos

I was just wondering two things.

1.) What on earth is that sticky fluidal sweet tasting (yes I know I am sick in my mind, I tasted it) secretion coming out of the flowerspike.

You wanna know sick. Yesterday I tasted it from an old, brown, rotting spike from my Catt. BlahhhhhH!!! Very bad. I had to spit it out.

Bird Song Farm · #4 04-15-2008, 03:02 PM

Many plants produce it to attract ants. The ants then "protect" the plant from insects (by killing or driving off) that would eat the leaves, flowers, etc.
Peonies are well known for doing this. Many people get all excited and worried when they see ants on the peony bud. They spray and kill the ants and then wonder why the buds are eaten. (Paper wasps love them). Lesson to learn.........a symbolic relationship exists for a reason.

AL

Daemos · #5 04-16-2008, 10:54 AM

Thanks.

Saw the same vanda specie in a garden center today and noticed the same stuff. God those flowers where gorgues. Can't believe it'll soon be the same here. The honey dew was quite tastefull but I don't recommend it to humans. Plants sometimes put psycho drug in their secretions

LauraN · #6 04-16-2008, 11:01 AM

I would think that the changing direction of the light source would cause the buds to turn or twist towards the light, which sometimes causes flowers to bloom and stay upside down or not centered properly.

Daemos · #7 04-16-2008, 11:11 AM

That could be troublesome :S

Right now I have not much of a choice. It is something like. Letting the flowers burn by getting too close too the light or that.
You are propably right about that. Right now I hope you are wrong

. Think Ill have to listen more to you guys in the sense of. Don't worry too much!

justatypn · #8 04-16-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

You wanna know sick. Yesterday I tasted it from an old, brown, rotting spike from my Catt. BlahhhhhH!!! Very bad. I had to spit it out.

Tindo you must have tasted to much 'honey dew' :wink:

Daemos · #9 04-16-2008, 01:57 PM