Q. My indoor orchids all of a sudden have developed some sticky sap on the underside of the leaves and flower stalks.\u00a0 Is this bad?\u00a0 And if yes, then what can I do to eliminate this problem.\u00a0 I wrote to Sunset magazine twice, but haven\u2019t received an answer. August 2014<\/p>\n
I love your articles in the Monterey Herald.\u00a0 They are always so informative.<\/p>\n
A. It\u2019s most likely that the sap is produced by very small pests that suck the plant\u2019s juices. These might be aphids, mealy bugs (cottony blobs) or scale (bumps that slide off). Use a bright light to spot them, looking closely at the new leaves in particular. Eliminate the pests by wiping them with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or Q-tip.<\/p>\n
If t you can\u2019t see any pests, the sap\u00a0might<\/span>\u00a0be produced naturally by some orchids to attract pollinators. If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s not a problem, but some growers will wipe off the sap with a damp paper towel.<\/p>\n Best wishes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Q. My indoor orchids all of a sudden have developed some sticky sap on the underside of the leaves and flower stalks.\u00a0 Is this bad?\u00a0 And if yes, then what can I do to eliminate this problem.\u00a0 I wrote to … Continue reading