What to do when the leaves of a phalaenopsis orchid are sticky?

In what cases is treatment required?

Before sounding the alarm, it is necessary to identify the causes of the appearance of sticky liquid. The appearance of such a substance is due to certain factors that are mutually exclusive.

• Natural process.
• The microclimate in the room is disturbed.
• Excessive watering.
• Excess fertilizer.
• Sudden temperature change.
• Powdery mildew infection.
• Attack of harmful insects.

What to do if sticky drops appear? Of course, in a natural process, you shouldn’t take all sorts of actions. In the wild, orchids thus attract insects for pollination through sweet nectar. This is a natural process of formation of sticky droplets due to the processing of sugars inside the flower. Sweet droplets also act as bait for aphids and other pests that stick and cannot escape.

Advice! In other cases, direct intervention is necessary. After all, with improper care or diseases, the flower will begin to wither and die.

How to fix if the problem is due to improper care?

A sticky layer on the leaves above or below also indicates unfavorable maintenance conditions. A similar problem is observed:

• if the air humidity in the room is low;
• presence of drafts;
• hypothermia of the orchid;
• overfeeding with fertilizers;
• improper watering and lighting.

All this contributes to the formation of a sticky layer.

What to do and how to get rid of:

Optimization of humidity conditions. In the summer, when air humidity is low, it is worth spraying regularly. Sugar droplets are removed using a damp cotton swab. You can also wash the plant under a warm shower. Set up an irrigation system. In winter, minimize the hydration of the flower, because excess liquid leads to the development of infectious diseases and damage by harmful insects, and as a symptom - sticky leaves

When flooding orchids you need to: dry the top layer of soil; treat the flower with a biological product to support immunity “Domotsvet”; arrange a good drainage layer.

Important! It is better to replace watering by soaking the flower pot in a container of water. A similar procedure is recommended to be carried out twice a month.

When overfeeding an orchid with fertilizers, it is important to reduce the level of salts in the soil; to do this: rinse the root system under running water for 5-10 minutes; Wash off the sticky layer from the leaves; let dry; change the soil; At first, do not feed the flower; after three months, use a low concentration of bait; Apply fertilizers only to slightly moist soil; Use boiled or filtered water for irrigation.

In case of pest damage

Sticky leaves are the result of infection of an indoor orchid by harmful insects, in particular:

• aphids;
• scale insect;
• whitefly;
• tick;
• worm.

Insects are located on the reverse side of the leaf and feed on the sap of the plant. The flower begins to dry, the leaves curl, and sticky spots appear. If you detect pests with the naked eye, you should:

1. isolate the infected plant;
2. remove insects with a cotton swab;
3. If necessary, trim the affected areas;
4. wash the leaves with warm soapy water;
5. in case of severe damage, treat the flower with an intoxicant solution.

How to treat if there is a white coating?

Why is the orchid sticky and how to treat it? Infectious diseases are troubles that spread quickly. The cause for concern is the presence of signs of powdery mildew. Harbingers:

• sticky layer on foliage;
• covered with a white coating, it is actively spreading;
• Over time, the plaque becomes black and the process of decay develops.

Dealing with this disease is not easy, it is recommended to take emergency measures:

1. Move the diseased plant away from healthy specimens.
2. Rinse the orchid with warm water in the shower.
3. Dry the flower for 12 hours.
4. Treat with Aktara or Actellik.
5. Plant in a pot with disinfected soil.
6. At first, do not disturb the plant, reduce watering.
7. It is also advisable not to feed.

You can find out more about what to do if a white coating and sticky drops appear on your orchid in a separate article.

How to fight the disease?

To combat sticky plaque, both folk remedies and industrial preparations can be used. The first ones are used when a plant is slightly infected with parasites; they are less toxic and will not harm either plants or people.

Special preparations should be used with greater caution in cases of pest outbreaks

Controlling sticky pests

If a sticky coating is detected, the plant should be immediately isolated from neighboring healthy flowers to avoid infection. You can get rid of pests that form a white coating on the leaves using one of the following methods:

Treat the flower with soapy water, then let it stand for several hours and then rinse under warm water. After a few days, the treatment should be repeated. Pass 30 g of garlic cloves through a garlic press and pour 1 liter of warm water, add a little soap, let it brew for a day. Treat the leaves with the resulting tincture several times (every 2-3 days). Dissolve 1 g of the universal substance Aktar in 1 liter of water, intended for the destruction of insect pests. Treat the leaves of the plant, then splash a little solution under the root of the flower. In case of significant damage by scale insects, dissolve an ampoule of Actellik in 1 liter of water.

Popular articles Selenicereus grandiflora - home care

Process the flower, taking precautions - wearing gloves and outdoors. After the procedure, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

What to do with brown scales?

Brown scales on the leaves of domestic flowers that remain after being attacked by scale insects must be removed, since clutches of eggs may remain inside, which is fraught with a repeated outbreak of pest reproduction. This is done mechanically.

For flowers with delicate leaves, a sponge or cotton pad is suitable; for tougher leaves, it is better to use a toothbrush. A disc or brush must be moistened in a soapy solution and treated each leaf of the plant, removing scales.

If the leaves become sweet

If sweet drops of nectar appear on the leaves of flowers, this may be an absolutely normal process. When flowering, nectar is released on the leaves of some plants. Its function is to additionally attract insects that can pollinate the flower.

As a rule, after the flowering period, this phenomenon disappears. However, it is necessary to carefully check the flower for the presence of pests. If they are detected, take appropriate measures.

How to get rid of a white drop?

The white coating that appears on the leaves during the life of the scale insect is very difficult to wash off. To do this, use a solution of the following ingredients:

• 10 ml 96% alcohol;
• 15 ml liquid soap;
• 1 liter of warm water.

All components must be mixed and then applied to the leaves by spraying or using a soft brush. After a few hours, rinse the solution under running warm water. If necessary, you can use a soft cotton pad.

Expert advice on caring for orchids with active guttation

Among the recommendations for caring for “crying” orchids, you can often find advice to wash the leaves of the plants with a shower. According to expert plant growers, this should not be done:

“Showering increases humidity and further stimulates guttation. Of course, it is better to get rid of sticky droplets on the leaves so that sooty fungus or more dangerous infections do not settle on them. But this must be done carefully, wiping the orchids with a slightly damp cotton pad.”

A. Davydovskaya, owner of the greenhouse, candidate of biological sciences

To reduce the manifestations of guttation, you need to normalize the air temperature and illumination of the orchid. The daily difference should not be more than 5-8 degrees, and daylight hours must be increased with the help of additional lighting.

Sticky drops on orchid leaves are a natural physiological reaction to certain environmental conditions. This does not require special measures or complex care. Simply removing the discharge is enough to prevent possible infections.

Analytics: Which method of removing plaque is better?

The editors of the 32-top website compared plaque cleaning at home and in the dentist's chair and highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of these methods.

Cleaning plaque at home

Advantages:

• Very low cost;
• Does not require visits to the doctor, can be done at home;
• Doesn't take much time;
• Suitable for those who are afraid of dentists.

Popular articles Is poisoning with oyster mushrooms possible?

Flaws:

• Not very effective;
• Some areas of the teeth are difficult to reach, and plaque from them cannot be easily removed;
• Cleaning with certain products, such as baking soda or peroxide, can damage the enamel.

Dental floss

Professional cleaning at the dentist

Advantages:

• Very effective, allows you to completely get rid of plaque;
• Teeth become noticeably lighter;
• Safe for enamel.

Flaws:

• Higher cost;
• Takes longer due to the need to visit a doctor.

IMPORTANT: As a result, we can conclude that home cleaning is a temporary measure for very busy people. It is better to allocate time and money at least once a year and visit the dentist for professional cleaning

Flower Treatment Options

If the orchid contains only a transparent sticky coating, but there are no other symptoms of the disease, you first need to change the conditions of detention. They should be as follows:

• eliminating bright sunlight that may fall on an orchid located on the windowsill;
• reducing the amount of water for irrigation (this action cannot be completely eliminated);
• eliminating various fertilizers, which could be too much, to prevent rotting and death of flowers and the entire plant;
• the ambient temperature should be average, no more than 23°C;
• the ambient temperature should always be stable; changes and drafts are not recommended;
• drying the top layer of soil in the pot;
• creating a drainage layer for water that enters the pot during watering.

Next, monitor the plant for a week. In the absence of various diseases, the condition of the plant will normalize, and sticky formations will completely disappear from the leaves. If no changes are observed, additional symptoms of the disease appear, it is necessary to begin treatment. You should carefully examine all parts of the flower, since various areas may contain parasites and midges.

Effect of parasites on leaves

Liquid on an orchid may appear to attract parasites that have settled on it. When they stick to a liquid, they cannot move, so they gradually die. The plant will not be able to cope on its own for a long time, so it is necessary to help it with the help of various chemicals.

If parasites are present, follow these steps:

• eliminate the possibility of infection of other plants in neighboring pots by moving the orchid to another room;
• take a cotton swab and carefully wipe all parts of the orchid from bottom to top to remove midges and other parasites;
• if any areas of leaves, trunk or stems are severely damaged, they should be removed;
• spraying with a solution of insecticides (Nurell-D, phosphamide, actellik), which destroy pathogens, but do not harm the orchid itself;
• treat the soil by lowering the pot into a container with liquid to which an insecticide tablet has been added, for example, Alirin-B;
• To prevent drops from appearing again, you should thoroughly rinse the pot, leaves, stems, and flowers once every 10 days.

Important! If the above measures do not help, you can use the chemical zircon. It has a high degree of disinfection

To do this, you need to dissolve up to 5 drops of the drug in 0.5 liters of warm water.

Transparent drops on the leaves

Only after complete treatment and the risk of recurrent disease has passed, can the phalaenopsis be returned to its original place, so it will not be able to harm other flowers.

If the flower is not severely affected, you can try using traditional methods of treatment. These include the following methods:

• washing the leaves with a diluted soap solution daily;
• if ordinary soapy water does not help, you can add a small amount of alcohol or vodka to it for disinfection;
• shower with water at room temperature with further treatment with aromatic oils;
• using a mixture that contains garlic and oil;
• making a tincture containing horsetail. The liquid is filtered and the plant is treated daily;
• processing various parts of phalaenopsis with water to which a small amount of soda and iodine has been added.

Traditional methods of treatment have a gentle effect. They do not harm the phalaenopsis itself, so it will not only survive, but will also begin to bloom faster.

Preventive measures

To ensure protection against possible diseases, optimal conditions for keeping the orchid should be created. Prevention against infections:

• The substrate for planting orchids must be checked for the presence of insects and disinfected.
• In winter, it is necessary to maintain the temperature at +16...+18 °C, in summer +22...+25 °C.
• The humidity level should not exceed 60-70%.
• The room in which the plant is located must be constantly ventilated.
• The flower is watered 1-2 times every 10 days, the leaves are sprayed with water daily. The number of waterings is determined depending on the humidity of the substrate. Use separated water. Water should not be allowed to stagnate in the axils of the peduncles.
• During the flowering period, the orchid needs iron and potassium. It is fed 2 times every 30 days with fertilizer containing these minerals.
• Instead of fertilizers, you can use homemade vitamin cocktails. Thanks to them, the plant will begin to develop more actively and harmoniously. A cocktail containing B vitamins, glucose and succinic acid will make it easier to endure various diseases, unscheduled transplants and other difficulties.

If you constantly maintain the temperature at the desired level, avoiding sudden changes and drafts, and check the plant for pests, the flower will not need complex treatment. It is considered normal when sticky drops appear on the plant after each watering.

Previous

Why do orchid leaves turn yellow and what to do about it

Next

Why do orchid flowers and buds fall off?

Briefly about white bugs

Mealybug is a pest of indoor and garden plants with a length of 3 to 5 mm. Its body is covered with bristles and a white powdery coating.

Females and males of insects have differences in behavior. The former are less mobile and form a white waxy airy yarn around their body. If you lift it, you can see the body of the insect and the yellow eggs laid.

Mealybugs close up

Mealybugs that pose a danger to orchids come in several types:

• Citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri). The female is pink, yellow or brown, oval in shape, reaches 3-5 mm in length, has bristles on the sides, and the body is covered with a powdery coating. The insect secretes a sweet secretion. The lifespan of an adult female is 90 days and is capable of laying about 300 eggs. Males are flying insects, similar in size and appearance to flies, with pink or yellow body color. The lifespan of a male is 2-4 days.
• Bristle mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus). The female is orange or red, up to 5 mm long, the body is covered with a powdery coating, and long antennae grow on it. The female produces a large amount of secretion. Males are shaped like a fly, their body color is gray, and there is also a powdery coating on it.

For your information! Male scale insects do not have any function in procreation and are safe for the orchid. These insects reproduce without fertilization, so most of their population is female.

Other white orchid pests:

• whiteflies - insects 2 mm long, have wings and fly between the leaves, lay eggs on the underside of the leaf;
• spider mites - they envelop leaves and stems with white cobwebs;
• bulb mite - affects only the roots or the exotic point, promotes the development of fungus;
• Podura - settles only in the substrate;
• springtails - outwardly resemble lice, have a light or dark gray color, and can form in a substrate that contains moss.

Whiteflies

Important! Before selecting treatment, it is important to determine the type of pest.

Other orchid pests

Red leaf color

Reddening of leaves always frightens gardeners. This phenomenon has various reasons:

• excess copper;
• phosphorus deficiency;
• leaf spot;
• mealybug infestation.

For preventive purposes, to eliminate the possible cause of an excess of copper, you should change the soil in the pot and apply organophosphorus fertilizer.

Leaf spotting can be suspected if, in addition to a change in color, there are other symptoms - a weeping surface, softening of the leaves.

Spots and dots on plants can indicate both simple violations in care and maintenance, and serious diseases.

In any case, at the first change in the appearance of the orchid, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination and identify the cause. The effectiveness of the measures taken will depend on this.

If the diagnosis is made correctly, then it will not be difficult to cure the orchid, and it will again delight with its flowering.

Rot: what is it like?

Black

Signs of damage are watery, transparent spots on the foliage and stem, which turn black over time.
The rest of the leaf turns yellow. The site of infection is soft and oozes when pressed. Causes of defeat:

• unsuitable water for irrigation (most often dirty);
• lack of sterilization of the container during culture transplantation;
• infection from another plant (often occurs from drops of water).

Method of treatment:

1. remove the affected parts, capturing a small area of ​​healthy tissue;
2. treat with a fungicide and place the phalaenopsis in a well-ventilated area.

Prevention:

• do not allow the substrate to become waterlogged;
• ensure air circulation;
• In spring, use fertilizers with a high calcium content.

Gray

Signs are small brown spots that resemble mold. As the spots grow, a pale pink halo appears around them.

Fighting gray rot:

1. Cut off the affected parts with a sterilized instrument.
2. Remove the plant for a week in a well-ventilated area with low humidity.

Prevention:

• Maintaining optimal humidity and air temperature.
• Timely removal of affected parts.
• When watering, avoid getting water on the leaves, stems and rosettes.

Root

The infected parts become soft and then turn brown. Infection occurs through the root system, which also becomes watery over time.

Causes:

1. excessive soil moisture;
2. lack of loosening and air obstruction in the soil;
3. frequent feeding;
4. pests living on roots.

Brown

It appears as watery brown spots of different shades. The disease mainly affects young phalaenopsis. If the rot has spread to the stem, the plant is unlikely to be saved.

If the plant is slightly damaged, it can be saved by treating it with preparations containing copper. If the rot has affected a large part, the orchid cannot be saved. Since the damage occurs from other plants, the only preventive method is quarantine for new crops.

Heart-shaped

The first signs are weeping spots on the leaves. Afterwards, the spots become brownish-purple with a yellow border that separates healthy and affected tissue. Gradually, the spots grow, and when pressed, they release a clear liquid.

Treatment:

• Remove damaged tissue.
• Remove the plant from the flowerpot, cut off the rotten roots, sprinkle with crushed coal, and let dry.
• Treat the rhizome with a light pink solution of manganese.
• After transplantation, spray the phalaenopsis with Bordeaux mixture (1%).

Prevention methods:

1. Follow the watering schedule and do not get water on the ground parts of the orchid.
2. Arrange a two-week quarantine for new crops.

Step-by-step instructions: what to do if the color has changed?

To green

The outer shell of the root, velamen, turns green when moistened, and when it dries it takes on a silver-gray tint. The green color of the root system indicates the health of the orchid. It is easy to determine the stage of growth by the color of the roots - young roots have a light green color, while the old root system has a more faded, inexpressive shade.

Attention! The appearance of light green roots should be monitored. If they are not visible for several months in a row, it is necessary to reconsider the irrigation system

Popular articles What is the difference between cedar and pine

To white

This color change is associated with the use of tap, untreated water for irrigation. Hard water contains a large percentage of salts, which tend to accumulate in the soil, thereby changing its composition and blocking the flow of air to the roots. As a result, you can see a white coating on the surface of the substrate and rhizome.

Measures taken:

carefully remove the flower from the pot and remove the remaining soil; rinse the roots under running warm water; trim damaged areas of roots; transplant into an orchid in a new substrate; use exclusively purified, soft water for irrigation; update the soil every three years, at least.

Experienced gardeners advise collecting melt or rainwater and using it to moisten the plant.

Reference! To make the water softer, add a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

To brown

It is important to regularly inspect the root system of epiphytes. If the flower is planted in a transparent pot, this is easy to do

It is more difficult if the orchid grows in a ceramic or clay pot, with limited access to light. In this case, the color of the roots may change.

Let's look at what's wrong if the roots of your home orchid turn brown. A similar color on the root shoots may appear due to deep planting in the substrate. Roots, with a lack of natural light, cannot fully participate in the process of photosynthesis, and as a result, chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green color, is not produced.

Measures taken:

take the flower out of the old pot; immerse the lower part of the plant in a container with warm water, leave for 2 hours; carefully wipe the roots with a paper towel; if there are damaged areas, remove them; transplants the orchid into a plastic transparent pot; place it in a well-lit place.

Another reason why roots turn brown is rot. It develops in an environment with high humidity, that is, with frequent or abundant watering (what to do when a flower is flooded?). The main rot diseases are gray, brown and root rot. With such infectious diseases, the following are often found: brown spots on the roots, flowers, brown spots on the leaves (read about what to do if spots on the petals and leaves appear on the orchid).

Measures taken:

1. quarantine the diseased plant;
2. remove damaged areas of roots with a sharp, disinfected instrument;
3. treat the soil and plant with a 0.2% solution of Fundazol or Topsina; another systemic fungicide will do;
4. it is advisable to use the method of immersing the pot in a chemical mixture, if it is described in the recommendations for the use of the drug;
5. repeat the procedure 3 times with a break of 10-14 days;
6. normalize indoor microclimate parameters;
7. adjust the irrigation system.

We offer you a visual video about how to save an orchid with darkening roots:

Reasons for the appearance of drops on phalaenopsis

Before deciding what to do if your orchid has sticky leaves, you should find out the root causes of this phenomenon. It is necessary to analyze the watering regime, carefully inspect each leaf and rosette. It wouldn't hurt to measure the temperature in a room or home greenhouse.

The main reasons for the formation of sticky droplets:

• The natural process of transpiration is the formation of flower nectar due to the processing of sugars inside the plant. In this case, the sweet drops serve as bait for pollinating insects. Also, sticky droplets attract pests, serving as a kind of trap for aphids and other parasites. To calm down, you should inspect the entire orchid for the absence of leaf cutters and mealyworms, slightly reduce watering and increase the temperature.
• Periodic overflow, accumulation of water in the pan and on the surface of the substrate. Additional factors are also low room temperature and too bright lighting. If the orchid has sticky leaves or spots appear, you should immediately remove it from the windowsill, dry the top layer of soil in the pot, and ensure good drainage.
• Excess fertilizing. With frequent application of fertilizers and abundant watering, a sticky coating can also form on the surface of phalaenopsis leaves, which contributes to the development of lesions and the appearance of spots. Sometimes you will need to completely change the substrate to prevent rotting or death of the peduncle or rosette.
• Infection with indoor pests: mites, scale insects, scale insects, aphids. They can be seen with the naked eye on the surface of leaves and drops. The fight should begin immediately, using various chemicals and tablets.
• Powdery mildew disease. The disease begins with copious drops, then progresses to the stage of formation of a white coating on the entire surface with gray and black spots.

Indoor orchids are considered capricious plants, so every time even small droplets appear, you need to reconsider the flower care regimen, check the temperature and humidity in the room. Untimely assistance can lead to the death of phalaenopsis, the death of flower stalks and aerial roots.

Causes

In order not to harm phalaenopsis by using various medications, it is necessary to identify the root cause of the condition. It can be physiological, then there is no need for drugs.

Natural drops on the leaves

High probability of natural processes. Normally, the plant is covered with flower nectar. This occurs due to natural metabolism - the processing of sugars.

For your information! Droplets with a sweet taste are formed, necessary to attract insects that can pollinate the phalaenopsis. In some cases, it is possible to attract parasites that cling to traps and cannot free themselves.

To check whether this is a natural process, you need to examine the plant for the presence of various parasites and slightly reduce watering. Be sure to increase the temperature in the room.

The reason for the formation of droplets may be a deterioration in the conditions of detention:

• overflow If a grower pours an excessive amount of water into the ground, and it also accumulates in the pan, this negatively affects the plants;
• poor environmental conditions. Sticky spots appear if the flower is placed on a windowsill and receives a large amount of sunlight. The condition worsens if the room temperature is low;
• poor-quality fertilizing or its excess. Non-sticky drops appear, but damage to the leaves is still noticeable. Pigmentation is formed that is not characteristic of the plant.

The plant can be attacked by insects:

• scale insect Interspersed with sticky drops on the orchid leaves, deformation and tubercles are formed due to the parasite feeding on orchid juice;
• aphid - a midge that, after consuming the sap of a plant, leaves sticky dew and lives in the rhizome or near the growing point of flowers;
• powdery mildew. First, drops appear on the surface, gradually forming a white coating with black inclusions.

Pathogen penetration

An orchid grown at home is the most capricious plant. Therefore, it should be carefully looked after in order to achieve good flowering and the absence of various diseases. Even if minor drops or plaque appears on the leaves, it is necessary to immediately change the temperature and humidity in the room and remove bright sunlight.

Even a small number of pests can lead to the death of a flower. Therefore, treatment must be started immediately, using only high-quality drugs.

The role of extrafloral nectar in plant life

The reason for the appearance of sticky drops on young leaves may be the release of nectar. It is popularly called “extrafloral nectar.”

Nectar performs the following functions:

1. Protecting plants from insect pests. Once trapped, the pests stick to the sweet drops and die.
2. Attracts pollinating insects. Appearing on the flower itself, attracted by the sweet smell of syrup, they pollinate the flower.
3. Protection against leaf cutters. The orchid is very cunning in protecting itself from such pests. Sticky drops attract aphids, ants settle behind them, and they, defending their territories, drive away leaf cutters. But this may cause more harm than good because aphids feed on the sap, weakening the plant’s defenses.
4. Excess production of sugars. This can only appear on strong, healthy, well-fed plants.

What are these drops and what do they look like: description and photo

It happens that drops appear on the leaves of phalaenopsis that look like dew, they feel sticky to the touch and taste sweet. They can be of different sizes and located in different parts of the flower. If you look closely at them, you can see the sugary structure.

Reference! This phenomenon has a scientific name - transpiration.

In the photo you can see what the drops look like on the leaves of the plant.

Reasons for the appearance of sticky drops on an orchid

Viscous nectar is released on different parts of the plant as a result of exposure to unfavorable factors:

• high humidity;
• natural phenomena of transpiration;
• diseases;
• pests.

High humidity

When overwatered, the plant releases excess moisture through the leaves and stems. If the grower does not normalize the care of the orchid in time, it begins to rot. The watering regime should provide the Phalaenopsis root system with time to contact oxygen. That is, the roots should not be constantly in water.

Important! The most unfavorable is excessive watering in combination with low temperatures and bright light. To avoid high humidity, you must follow the following rules:

To avoid high humidity, you must follow the following rules:

1. Check the soil moisture not from above, but inside the layer. Water only when the soil is dry.
2. If the rhizome is in a transparent plastic pot, then condensation will form on its walls. The orchid should be watered after it disappears.
3. The average frequency of watering in summer is once a week, in winter – once every 2 weeks.

If the housewife is not sure about the need for watering, then it is better to postpone it for a day.

Extrafloral nectar

The phenomenon of secretion of extrafloral nectar is called transpiration. In its natural habitat, the orchid secretes a sweet sap to attract pollinating insects. Domestic Phalaenopsis retained this function.

Extrafloral nectar will not harm the crop. Drops from leaves and stems should not be removed. If, however, the cause is the presence of pests, then the overall picture of the disease will not be clear.

Pests

The orchid may react with sticky drops on all parts of the plant to the appearance of pests. The protective functions of the juice are that the insect is immobilized in a viscous substance and cannot cause harm. Another option is that sticky mildew attracts beneficial insects, which repel harmful ones or feed on them.

In addition, parasitic insects themselves can leave a shiny sticky trail. Their presence is easy to notice with the naked eye on the reverse side of the sheet. Pests that feed on the juices of the plant lead to its death.

Diseases

Powdery mildew disease is accompanied by the appearance of sticky drops and a white coating. This is a fungal infection. But later another fungus may join. In this case, the white spots become dark, and the places where they are located become dry.

Interesting! The cause of the disease is inappropriate growing conditions and systematic excessive watering of Phalaenopsis. All this is a favorable environment for the development of fusarium and other fungal infections.

Powdery mildew pathogens interfere with the normal course of photosynthesis. In this regard, the flower stops developing, and the leaves are often deformed.

Prevention

To protect an exotic flower from serious problems associated with the appearance of a sticky layer, it is necessary to create optimal growth conditions for it and regularly inspect the exotic flower for preventive purposes:

• the optimal indoor temperature in summer is +22+25 degrees, in winter - +16+18;
• lighting should be diffused;
• water the flower once a week, between waterings the soil should dry completely;
• fertilize 2 times a month with fertilizers high in potassium and iron;
• Spray the flower with water daily.

Of course, it is easier to prevent a problem than to treat a sick orchid later

Now the appearance of sugar drops will not cause you to panic, since you know how to care for your favorite flower to avoid trouble, what you should pay attention to in order to notice the disease in time, and also what to do to cure your pet

Why do they turn yellow?

Yellowing can occur for a number of reasons:

• Incorrect watering. Excess moisture and its stagnation provokes rotting of the roots, and subsequently the development of fungal diseases, as a result of which the leaves wither and turn yellow. Lack of moisture also causes yellowness.
• Inconvenient container. If the pot is too cramped, then the roots do not have enough space to develop sufficiently, so they cannot “breathe”. The plant should be transplanted into a larger container.
• Incorrect reproduction. If the bush is divided carelessly, the orchid can be damaged. But if you create ideal conditions for it, it will soon recover on its own, especially if you feed it with special fertilizers for orchids.
• Too much fertilizer. Excess nutrients are not good for plants, and yellowing leaves indicate this. This is especially noticeable when there is an imbalance of microelements: too much of one will interfere with the absorption of others.
• Nematodes and other pests that attack roots. As a result, the natural metabolism of the plant is disrupted, creating a lack of nutrients, which is manifested in yellowing of the leaves. Color is restored soon after treatment.

Sticky drops appeared on the orchids

If sticky transparent drops are found on the leaves, you need to ensure that the grower is properly caring for his orchid, as they may be:

• natural manifestations - the release of nectar;
• be dew when there is excessive moisture in the substrate and air;
• you need to carefully examine the plant for the presence of pests, since the drops may be a product of their vital activity;
• inspect for the presence of fungal diseases.

Photo of sticky drops on orchid leaves.

IMPORTANT! If upon examination no abnormalities in the development of the flower are revealed and there are no pests, then this is nectar secretion

Natural life process

If a florist, examining a flower and observing it for 2 weeks, does not detect pests or powdery mildew, then the appearance of sticky drops should not worry him - this is nectar, which, in the natural conditions of its homeland, attracts insects to pollinate flowers.

A plant uses pollination to reproduce and therefore needs to attract various insects to this process, and the orchid does this with excellent imitation using:

• nectar;
• varied and sometimes bizarre shapes of flowers;
• the pattern on the petals resembles flowers containing nectar;
• the shape and color resembles female insects that are waiting for males;
• the aroma of some species completely intoxicates insects, luring them to reproduce.

Extrafloral nectar appears on the stems of orchid plants and serves to attract insects. But it’s good when the flower is in its native habitat.

If nectar appears at home, then the flower will not receive anything other than local aphids, scale insects and scale insects. Therefore, when it appears indoors, you need to get rid of it. The flower is placed in a quarantine zone and the droplets begin to get rid of the appearance.

Causes

So why does the orchid cry? The appearance of sticky drops indicates that the plant is not properly cared for.

You need to find the reason by adjusting:

• watering a flower;
• feeding;
• find a more suitable place indoors.

Because sticky coating, even if it is just natural nectar, may well attract harmful insects or sooty fungus. And these manifestations will have to be fought with chemical means.

Sooty fungus.

Sticky dew can also appear as a means of protection against harmful insects. The sticky substance blocks the access of oxygen to the pests and they suffocate. But scientists write this, but in fact the protection does not work very well, as aphids, ants and sooty fungus appear.

IMPORTANT! At home, this plant protection does not work and the stickiness must be gotten rid of immediately. The sticky substance, as a protection, works only in the plant’s homeland in the tropics

In our latitudes it can cause various diseases. Let's look at the main diseases on orchids caused by sticky mildew.

The sticky substance, as a protection, works only in the plant’s homeland in the tropics. In our latitudes it can cause various diseases. Let's look at the main diseases on orchids caused by sticky mildew.

Powdery mildew

If sticky dew over time turns into a coating with a white coating resembling flour, this means only one thing - the plant is sick with powdery mildew.
After a certain time, the leaves will begin to darken and dry out. The cause of the disease is high humidity and ambient temperature.

To get rid of this fungal disease, the leaves and flowers are treated with an appropriate fungicide. If you do not treat the flower, it will certainly die.

Mealybugs and other parasites

Mealybugs, and other parasites, often secrete a sticky coating as a product of their vital activity. It blocks the oxygen supplied to the leaf blades for the process of photosynthesis, and the leaf dies.

In order for the parasites to appear on the leaf, the air temperature around the flower is increased, after which the bugs crawl to the surface. They are harvested mechanically and then treated with various chemicals designed to remove specific parasites.

Mealybug on an orchid.

Signs of illness

Any indoor plant can get sick. The flower grower should take care of returning the flower to its previous appearance.

Peduncle of an orchid: causes of diseases and methods of combating them

If black spots are visible among the transparent drops, you should sound the alarm: powdery mildew is developing. The causative agent of powdery mildew is present in any soil, but increased activity occurs only under the following conditions:

• if the soil has a high nitrogen content;
• violation of watering - the flower is watered often;
• the flowerpots are too crowded - the orchid does not have enough air;
• the causative agent is the host itself.

Additional Information! First of all, on a diseased plant, you need to remove all damaged leaves.

Comprehensive measures against leaf spots:

• isolating the flower from other species, choosing a permanent sunny place;
• refusal to use fertilizers during treatment; after an illness, the orchid will need phosphorus-potassium compounds, but not nitrogen, to recover;
• a sick plant does not require a large amount of moisture;
• it is necessary to replace the soil, as colonies of fungi spread in the upper layer;
• during transplantation, the stem and healthy shoots should be sprayed with medicinal preparations, and the roots should be kept in a solution of the medicinal preparation;
• It wouldn't hurt to treat the flowerpot and tray.

When does phalaenopsis need help?

Causes of droplets: how to determine in a specific orchid

If drops occur on an orchid, the reasons can be determined by carefully examining its leaves and stems.

When flower nectar is a natural phenomenon

If monitoring the condition of the plant did not help to identify excess moisture, the presence of insect pests, or fungal infections, we can conclude that the sticky secretions are the result of the normal functioning of the flower. There is no need to change conditions or use drugs; the plant is not in danger.

When sticky drops are a sign of care errors

When sugary secretions form, it is necessary to analyze the conditions in which the orchid grows. The reasons for transpiration may be the following:

• very low air humidity, less than 50%;
• the pot with the plant is in a draft;
• the air temperature is such that the orchid becomes hypothermic;
• lack of lighting or, on the contrary, its excess;
• watering is not organized correctly;
• excessive application of fertilizers.

If errors in care have been corrected, but flower nectar continues to be released, you need to check whether the plant is sick.

When sticky discharge is a sign of pest infestation

Insect pests are often difficult to detect with the naked eye. You need to examine the orchid with a magnifying glass. The following parasites can be seen on leaves and peduncles:

• Scaleworms. They look like small white lumps that can easily be confused with drops. Cell sap serves as food for them. Beetles harm plants by injecting poison into the leaves.
• Aphid. It can be seen without a magnifying glass on the back of the sheet plates. Insects secrete a sugary sticky liquid, so that the flower begins to become covered with a transparent coating.
• Shield. This dangerous pest forms a yellowish dome over its body, similar to drops.
• Spider mite. It reveals itself by the appearance of thin cobwebs, creating a white coating. When moisture settles on the web, a sticky layer appears.

Diagnostics

The success of treatment depends on the correct diagnosis of the phenomenon, therefore, before starting measures to restore the health of the flower, it is necessary to conduct a thorough visual inspection:

• If on the leaves of phalaenopsis, in addition to the sticky layer, there is also a white coating or black spots, this is a sign of powdery mildew.
• Yellow spots on the leaves indicate an excess of mineral fertilizers.
• It is also necessary to inspect the reverse side of the sheet. If the reason for the appearance of sugar drops lies in insect pests, that’s where you need to look for them.