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| I noticed I over-watered one of my coffee plants and I am trying to determine if what I found under the leaves is the plants way of dissipating the excess water or what. It appears to be sap, but it's clear, and appears close to the veins on the leaves, on the undersides. It was sticky to the touch. I washed the leaves, gently, and washed my hands thoroughly as I believe it's a toxic plant. I can't find SQUAT for info on coffee plants and sap except that they produce it in the SPRING. But, I'm worried that if it isn't sap, it could be the residue of something else. Anyone familiar with this?
I'm going to be very careful in future. I didn't realize I had bought the water-retaining soil mixture - I hate that crap, and will be re-potting and getting rid of that crap. Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Hi Mathew. I had a large Coffee plant once a few years ago and the way your describe the sticky leaves sounds like scale? Just a guess? Check out the link below and see if that might be the issue? Good luck! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sticky leaves...
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- Posted by summersunshine (My Page) on Sat, Nov 12, 11 at 16:26
| Are you sure it wasn't guttation? That's when some of the fluids inside the plant seep out. Sometimes plants will do that when they've been watered heavily. It's harmless. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Wiki article on Guttation
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- Posted by hopefulauthor z5IL (hopefulauthor@sbcglobal.net) on Sun, Nov 13, 11 at 16:48
| Matthew..inspect ALL parts of your Coffee tree. I don't think Coffee Arabica is toxic. the worse that can happen is a skin rash, which is rare. Rash might be myth. Look for brown spots that can be scraped off, white, cottony sacs, and fine webbing. Depending on size, take your Coffee plant to the sink/shower and hose foliage w/o wetting soil. Determine whether the sap is from an insect or guttation. If it is an insect, the sooner it's treated, the better. I too dislike water-retentive soils..especially for house plants. Seems more and more of this 'crap' is being sold. I don't like that they add fertiilzer either..what can we do about it? Write to soil company's, complain. It's a start. Toni |
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- Posted by sirmatthew 4 - Iowa (mfhawn@mchsi.com) on Sun, Nov 13, 11 at 21:46
| Thanks for your answers. I THINK it is guttation. I have had scales before - on my weeping fig - and what a nightmare that was, so I've seen scales, and I checked my coffee plant and it is scale-free, as are the rest of my plants in that room. I'm keeping my eyes open but it appears it was my over-watering that did it, with that moisture control stuff (which is now augmenting my garden soil)! Thanks again! |
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- Posted by hopefulauthor z5IL (hopefulauthor@sbcglobal.net) on Mon, Nov 14, 11 at 14:01
| Matthew. Guttation won't cause problems, Scale will. Anytime you suspect or want to prevent Scale, add one cap of Fish Emulsion to a 16oz or so spray bottle. Spray all parts of the plant. FE is basically an organic fertilizer, but prevents and kills Scale. Take my word, it works. One word of caution. FE has a fishy odor that will last 2-3 days, indoors. |
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