Dot,
Guttation is a common occurence in plants and can even be a source of moisture for orchids from the plant they are growing on. It is generally associated with root pressure exceeding the ability of the plant to transpire ie. a well watered plant in high humidity, as occurs at night. It generally consists of sugars and salts that are in the plant sap and can build up to damaging levels over time if not rinsed off by rainfall / irrigation.
I had not heard the excess fertilizer reasoning in my days at school. ( long in the distant past)
Paul and Diane LeBlanc Species Orchids
http://www.bluemoonexotics.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Dorothy Potter Barnett [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 08:47 AM
To: Orchids@orchidguide.com
Subject: Re: [OGD] Roots
Thanks, Oliver. That is very interesting.Would you please also address the reason for the sugar found externally on orchid leaves, stems, flowers...? I've heard it is excess fertilizer, but would like to know more.Dot
On Dec 14, 2005, at 6:00 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
As usual, it all depends... But one really important point about roots is that they are the source of cytokines - a class of hormone - for the plant. Most
plants exist naturally on the edge of a state of senescence, and this is prevented by the free flow of cytokines. Sick roots or starved roots do not produce as much of these necessary compounds as will a healthy one, and such a plant will either become senescent - yellow, dropping leaves and so forth - or become static and quasi-dormant.
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