Sticky spots on my Catt

[orchid lady]

I just noticed some sticky substance that looks like water droplets coming out on what I believe a sheath on my catt. Has anyone has any idea what it is? Sorry, for the poor quality of the pictures.

Thanks,

[wetfeet101b]

"Happy Sap", "Healthy Honeydew", "Thank You Trickles", etc...
Just some of the names used to identify these beads of nectar produced by the plant as it announces to pollinators that it is getting ready to bloom.

These are sure signs that the plant is healthy and the flower buds are in good shape. Keep them away from ants though, as they tend to flock to the plant to harvest these droplets.

Some folks here are known to lick them (literally). I personally would not though, as some can be hallucinogenic ~~~groovy!!!~~~

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Nothing wrong there! That is 'Honeydew' and as John has already said is the indicator of a bud about to open. Now you get to watch out for ants. They seem to 'appear' over night.

Cheers,
BD

[Becky15349]

I sometimes take some with my finger and taste it - its super, super sweet, like the most concentrated sugar you've ever had....cool!

[Cjcorner]

We call it orchid honey around here because as stated above it tastes like a sweet drop of honey. I got pics awhile back of my gecko licking its way around a vanda that had orchid honey drops on the buds. I posted pics of that one...
Can't wait to see the pics of your flowers.
Connie

[Mesozoic_Orchids]

Haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd give it a shot... Here's a picture of Cymbidium floribundum

that shows beads of honey when a few days before the honey wasn't there. This cymbidium was moved from the greenhouse where it was raised and brought to another location. So I think this phenomena occurs when an orchid is moved more so than a "natural" occurrence for the orchid. I don't mean to step on anyone's toes but I rarely see dew like this on orchids inside the greenhouse and occasionally I will take a taste but this is not very common. Also, I was told by an orchid grower that it's not a good idea to taste the honey because the orchid may have a virus. Anyway, I have seen honey like this on orchids in the greenhouse but its rare. I see it occur more often when an orchid is moved...

[wetfeet101b]

This cymbidium was moved from the greenhouse where it was raised and brought to another location.
So I think this phenomena occurs when an orchid is moved more so than a "natural" occurrence for the orchid.

What you are observing is "humidity shock". The plant has been growing in a greenhouse under ideal humidity and then brought outside suddenly.
The vapor pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the plant will cause internal fluids to leak out. This process normally happens through the stomata, but can also happen through the nectar ducts at the base of the flower stalks.

The nectar production is a natural process employed by most orchids to attract pollinators. The reason you do not see them most of the time is that the droplets are very small and dry up quickly to be observed.
Adding humidity shock to the equation, more water is mixed in with the nectar droplets and it makes them bigger (more visible) and takes longer to dry up.

I rarely see dew like this on orchids inside the greenhouse

I see them all the time on my orchids and they stay inside the greenhouse most of the time. Although not as big as the droplets on your cymbidium.

Also, I was told by an orchid grower that it's not a good idea to taste the honey because the orchid may have a virus .

There are far nastier things possibly contained in the nectar droplets than orchid virus. Pesticide poisoning, Lyme disease, etc.
Worst case scenario with an orchid virus is that your immune system cannot handle the virus and you become a permanent carrier, forever infecting any other plants that you lick in the future.

[rich63]

Is it a bad thing to have the ants,for a plant that is outside? I see two post that state to watch out for ants.I have a cattleya that is outside with two new growths that the ants seam to be eating or licking(little tonges) something off the new shoots? I also have one in bloom that has afew ants roaming around on the backside of the bloom also.There are ants everywhere here in Florida.Please advise.Thank You,Rich

[wetfeet101b]

The ants themselves will not harm the plant. They do present some problems when you intend to bring the plants indoors though.
And some of them can have a nasty bite so just keep an eye on them when you are handling your plants.
It is just a temporary situation as the ants harvest the nectar when the plant is in bloom.

However, if you still see ants crawling all over your plant even when it is not in bloom, then it could be an indication that the ants are farming aphids and are harvesting their honeydew.
Again, the ants are a secondary issue in that situation but the aphids are harmful to the plants.

[orchid lady]

"Happy Sap", "Healthy Honeydew", "Thank You Trickles", etc...
Just some of the names used to identify these beads of nectar produced by the plant as it announces to pollinators that it is getting ready to bloom.

These are sure signs that the plant is healthy and the flower buds are in good shape. Keep them away from ants though, as they tend to flock to the plant to harvest these droplets.

Some folks here are known to lick them (literally). I personally would not though, as some can be hallucinogenic ~~~groovy!!!~~~

I'm excited, although I cannot take all the credit as it was already in sheath when I bought it a week or so ago. It has 2 more sheaths but the other one is brownish in color and does not have the same "Happy Sap" so I think that one is probably dead and the third sheath just started to emerge. Do we have any idea how long before I can enjoy the bloom? I can't wait

Thanks everybody