Happy sap? - Orchid Board

RoseSD · #1 01-06-2022, 02:49 PM

Is this happy sap I heard of? Now what?
Is this a spike growth of my large Catt? Thanks!

Shadeflower · #2 01-06-2022, 03:15 PM

yes it is.
Now you wait till it turns into a new pseudobulb, then if the pseudobulb is big enough it might flower, the flowers emerge out of the top once the leaves have formed.
Sometimes it can take months before it decided to produce flowers after the pseudobulb has formed. Sometimes it flowers shortly after, sometimes it just never will have the energy.

I will attach warm growing dendrobium as an example, not the same orchid but exactly the same principle, first the pseudobulb forms and then with some luck a flower grows out of the top of a formed pseudobulb

RoseSD · #3 01-06-2022, 03:26 PM

Thank you. Do you know why it releases sap?

Shadeflower · #4 01-06-2022, 04:32 PM

I'm not sure. I see it as a good thing. The plant grows, it sucks up water, a little forms at the end as droplets of sugary water. It's just excess they don't need, shows me they are getting all the moisture they need.
I honestly don't think about it much. Your pseudobulb is pretty plump so that's a good sign too.

jcec1 · #5 01-06-2022, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoseSD

Thank you. Do you know why it releases sap?

I know peonies do it to attract ants to the flower buds, the ants in return keep other insects away. It might be the same for orchids.

isurus79 · #6 01-06-2022, 10:06 PM

Taste the happy sap. Seriously! It's VERY sweet and delicious!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcec1

I know peonies do it to attract ants to the flower buds, the ants in return keep other insects away. It might be the same for orchids.

I've always found ants feeding on it and have assumed the ants protect the orchid as well.

RoseSD · #7 01-06-2022, 10:22 PM

Good thing I keep it indoor. Today I left it on a tall outdoor chair for "sunlight exposure" and in less than half an hour, found an ant on the chair.
Now I know why!

RoseSD · #8 03-12-2022, 08:01 PM

My new growth grew up.
Can you tell if there will be a flower coming out?

estación seca · #9 03-12-2022, 08:11 PM

It's hard to read the label, but is this C. leoloddiglossa? If so it has three ancestors: leopoldii, loddigesii and amethystoglossa. The first and third are very tall plants. I suspect you will need to wait a little longer for flowers.

RoseSD · #10 03-12-2022, 08:17 PM

Yes it is.
So it will just turn into another (taller) psBulb?