What is the sticky substance on the leaves of the orchid?

What's the Deal with the Sticky Substance on the Leaves of Orchids

Today, the editor will elaborate on the knowledge of green plants and flowers regarding why there is a sticky substance on the leaves of orchids. Below is a detailed introduction for you.

What's the Deal with the Sticky Substance on the Leaves of Orchids

Suddenly, a series of tiny droplets appeared on the leaves, which feel a bit sticky when touched. Actually, it is precious orchid dew. If you see these sticky droplets on your orchid, you can taste them with your finger, and they will have a sweet taste.

Orchids are traditional famous flowers in China, and many people like to keep a pot at home, admiring their graceful leaves and elegant flowers.

When they bloom, you can also smell their subtle fragrance, which has high ornamental value. With the increase of artificially propagated orchids, more and more people are raising them.

Recently, I received a comment from an orchid enthusiast: They mentioned that their orchid suddenly had a series of tiny droplets on the leaves, which felt a bit sticky when touched. At first, they thought it was the water they sprayed, but upon second thought, water isn't sticky, and besides, the water sprayed at night should have evaporated by morning. So, what is this stuff?

What are these Sticky Tiny Droplets?

Actually, they are precious orchid dew. If your orchid has these sticky droplets, you can taste them with your finger, and they will have a sweet taste.

What is Orchid Dew?

Every spring, most orchids enter the blooming period, such as the common ones like black orchid,jian orchid, large flowered cymbidium, cymbidium, dendrobium, and so on.

They are all easy to grow and prone to producing orchid dew, especially black orchids, which attentive orchid enthusiasts can mostly see.

When black orchids bloom, tiny droplets easily appear on their sepals, flower spikes, and leaves, which is the precious orchid dew.

Actually, orchid dew is produced when the orchid grows robustly, and the roots absorb too much nutrients.

Some of the nutrients are supplied to the orchid for blooming and growth, while the excess nutrients accumulate in the body and cannot be absorbed, becoming redundant nutrients that seep out from the stems and leaves, turning into orchid dew.

If your orchid has orchid dew, then congratulations are in order, as it indicates that you have done a great job raising a premium orchid.

What is the Use of Orchid Dew?

Since this is the excess nutrients secreted by a robust orchid, if your orchid produces orchid dew, it means that your orchid is very strong and healthy, and it will bloom more during the blooming period. If it's a fragrant orchid, the fragrance will also be more intense.

How to Grow Orchid Dew?

Of course, you need to grow the orchid robustly and take care of the basic orchid maintenance. Although there are many varieties of orchids, their care is mostly similar. Let's briefly talk about the key points of orchid cultivation.

Key Points of Orchid Cultivation

1. Use a "Good Pot"

Here, "good pot" does not refer to an expensive pot, but a pot suitable for orchids. The choice of orchid pots usually considers several factors: it should be beneficial for the growth of orchid roots, aesthetically pleasing, and economical and durable.

Common pots on the market include plastic pots, clay pots, porcelain pots, ceramic pots, glazed pots, and purple sand pots. Since orchid roots are fleshy, they require a pot with good breathability, so it's best to use ceramic pots, clay pots, and purple sand pots. Considering aesthetics, many people choose purple sand pots.

2. Use the Right "Planting Material"

Orchid roots are thick and fleshy, which means that the planting material for orchids should have good drainage, breathability, oxygen content, and moisture retention.

Currently, the common method in the orchid community is to use planting stones, decomposed pine bark, Xian soil, decomposed peanut shells, perlite, fired soil granules, and small pond foundation stones to configure the planting mix. Before use, the plants should be soaked for about 30 minutes and then drained.

Usually, the method is to mix several plants together, such as using 25% decomposed leaf mold, 25% perlite, 25% decomposed pine bark, and 25% small pond foundation stones.

3. Suitable Environment

The optimal growing temperature for orchids is 15-25 degrees Celsius for Cymbidium goeringii, 20-30 degrees Celsius for black orchids, and 25-30 degrees Celsius for Cymbidium ensifolium. High or low temperatures will affect the growth of orchids.

Orchids generally prefer humid air and do not like dryness. Therefore, the best air humidity for growing orchids is between 70%-85%. Cymbidium ensifolium and winter orchids can be slightly drier, while black orchids can be slightly wetter.

Orchids need sunlight for growth but are very sensitive to direct sunlight. Most orchids can be exposed to full sunlight in winter, early spring, and late autumn, but need about 70% shade in summer and partial shade when the temperature is high in spring and autumn.

4. Reasonable Fertilization and Watering

Orchids like a humid growing environment but are afraid of waterlogging. Before watering, check if the top one-third of the potting mix is dry. Water slowly and thoroughly, and to increase air humidity, you can spray water more often.

Fertilization should be frequent with a thin solution, preferably using orchid-specific fertilizer according to the instructions. Do not arbitrarily increase or decrease the amount. During the blooming period, add some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer or use orchid-specific bloom-promoting fertilizer.

The above is the specific content about why there is a sticky substance on the leaves of orchids, for everyone's reference and operation.