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I brought some trailing vinca cuttings indoors to hang around the apartment. Very pretty — but I just discovered a sticky (ew) spot on the furniture and carpet under the hanging vines.

The leaves are covered in what looks like a misting of water, but which is very sticky and saplike in consistency.

Is this normal/healthy? (With whom do I lodge a complaint about a poorly designed plant?) The plants are otherwise very happy-looking.

PS: The only information I can find about vinca sap is that it's likely poisonous. So I guess I won't lick my plant.

sappy leaf mo leaf mo good

j6m8
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Hmm, odd. There is a phenomenon called guttation which happens when the plant is in particular environmental conditions (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guttation); this seems to fit the fact that the droplets are evenly distributed over the leaf. As an experiment, take a moist cloth and clean off one leaf only and see if the drops come back, and how quickly. Draw conclusions. Thoroughly wash disgusting cloth.

If it is guttation the issue might go away by itself as the surroundings change.

An alternative is secretions from some awful pest, but if you don't see any let's apply Occam's Razor here and go with the simplest explanation.

Complaints should probably go to the person that last watered the plant or the building superintendent. Twisting of the short hairs just above the ear and yelling is sometimes effective.

Colin Beckingham
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Aha - that's a clearer image, and under magnification, clearly shows a scale insect infestation- that's what the brown bumps are, image/info here http://homesteadbrooklyn.com/all/2017/1/17/common-insects-pests-on-houseplants. And that will also be the cause of the sticky 'sap' you've been getting, its the honeydew from the scale insect, not guttation. If these are just loose stems you've cut for decoration, and they're not actually growing from a pot, I'd get rid of them out of the house asap if you have other plants, before they get a chance to infest any other greenery or houseplants you have indoors. If you do have other, permanent plants indoors, check them over carefully...

Bamboo
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