Contact Us
University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County
669 County Square Drive, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: 805.645.1451
Fax: 805.645.1474
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The office will be closed for the following holidays:
March 29 – Ceaser Chavez Day
May 27 – Memorial Day
June 19 – Juneteenth
July 4 - Independence Day
Sap on Table
I suspect that your plant is not bleeding sap, rather it is being drained with help from an insect. Several insects suck sap from plants and excrete a sticky solution called honeydew. Honeydew is what is accumulating on your table. Mealybugs, aphids, and scale insects are the most common culprits in the production of honeydew in houseplants. The former two are fairly easy to find, but the latter may be the same color as the host, may be very flat, and adheres tightly to stems and leaves, and is often not easily found unless you know for what you are looking. If the plant stems are rough, check them. Scrape the rough areas. Scale can be easily dislodged with your fingernail.
If any of the above insects are present, I suggest spraying the plant with summer oil and insecticidal soap. Usually two sprays are necessary 10 to 14 days apart to completely eradicate the infestation. Use plant protection products according to label instructions for best results. A further word of information . . . If one houseplant is infested, others may be also. Check all your houseplants for insect infestations regularly and treat as the need arises. Winter time is often the time of year when houseplant insect pest populations increase as there are few to no predators and parasites working during these cold months.