I have a potted diff., indoor plant sitting by a west facing window. Also, very near the plant there is a pair of French Doors, which remain closed almost always. Recently DH and I noticed there is moisture on the leaves, as if they sweat. This morning there was so much moisture that I actually looked up, expecting to see a leaky roof! http://www.blankees.com/house/plants/dumbcane.htm The sweat can be observed at different times of day.
Has anybody had a similar experience? I know the plant is poisonous so I've told my husband to immediately wash his hands if he touches the "sweat". We are empty nesters, so I'm not concerned about any danger from this plant. I've had this plant 3-4 years but this seemed strange to me. Other nearby plants do not sweat. Your input will be greatly appreciated.
Diffenbachia aka Dumb Cane
nery, i've had that happen on mine, especially after just being watered. it might be the plant's way of ridding itself of excess moisture.
OH.. it reminds me of an old story from an old life.. I'll share..to me it will always be an exceptional plant...
I would , back in the 60's make art and incorporate plants into it.. I had a dressmakers model form...a discarded pro version... with a wire lower 1/4.. I soaked it in resin..and had plants growing out of various parts of the body .. out of the top where the neck would have been.. I had a large Diffenbachia... [ which I'd always think of as a Thief in Back of Ya] Well..my wife at the time was more than a bit over due to give birth to our Son... so it was an anxious time .. to be sure...
one evening as we were laying in bed... which was this bed platform with mattress which hung from chains over the floor ..the floor was planted with an inside lawn.. about 3' around the bed.. growlux lighting in the ceiling for light.. well we were laying together quietly... when there was loud crash and noise of disruption.. on getting up to check I discovered this 5' tall dress model w/ the diffenbachia 5' above it... had fallen over on it's own.. perhaps having grown too tall and wide for it's base.. and crashed to the floor on it's own.spliting it's self open in the middle.. and spilling it's dirt allover the floor... looking like a cesarean birth.. with in 1/2 hour my wife Lindsay was starting labor to give natural birth to our son Rowan..and we rushed her to the hospital.. that's the story of my last diffenbachia.. Gordon
I'll always feel a particular connection to this sensitive plant... perhaps it's dripping is trying to tell you something.. alth
The process is called guttation, and it's a normal occurence.
Here's the Wikipedia definition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guttation
I have it happen to house plants too.