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In this blog we’re exploring a curious and often misunderstood phenomenon in plants called guttation.
Ever noticed tiny water droplets forming at the tips or edges of your plant leaves? If so, you’ve witnessed guttation — and no, it’s not your plants crying, nor is it necessarily a cause for concern.
Let’s dive into the science behind guttation and what it means for your hydroponic grow.
Guttation is the process by which water droplets appear at the margins or tips of leaves, usually early in the morning or under conditions of high humidity. These droplets come from inside the plant, not the air, and are pushed out through special pores at the leaf’s edge, typically where leaf veins meet the margin.
Under normal conditions, water moves from roots to leaves through a passive process driven by evaporation from leaf pores (stomata). This evaporation creates negative pressure, pulling water and nutrients up through the xylem.
However, when humidity is high—especially at night or early morning—evaporation slows down or stops, so plants can’t rely on passive transport. To keep nutrient flow going, some plants use root pressure to actively push water upward.
If the pressure builds and there’s nowhere for the water to go, it’s released as droplets at the leaf tips. This is guttation in action.
Not at all! Guttation is a normal biological process, especially common in tropical plants and houseplants. It’s just a sign that your plant is working hard to regulate water and nutrient flow.
However, if you see excessive guttation, it could signal:
So while guttation itself isn’t a problem, the conditions causing it might need attention.
It’s crucial not to mistake guttation for honeydew, a sticky substance secreted by pests like aphids and whiteflies. Here’s how to tell the difference:
| Guttation | Honeydew |
|---|---|
| Clear, water-like droplets | Sticky, sugary residue |
| Appears early morning | Often found throughout the day |
| At leaf tips or margins | Random spots on leaves or stems |
| No pest presence | Accompanied by visible insects |
Pro tip: If in doubt, inspect your plants closely before reaching for insecticides.
Interestingly, guttation has been studied as a method to extract compounds from plants, especially genetically modified ones. Because the guttation fluid (xylem sap) is extremely pure, it can potentially carry active ingredients, offering innovative ways to harvest plant-based chemicals.
While not proven, some growers speculate that guttation may share mechanisms with resin production in flowering plants. However, guttation droplets are mostly water-based and not rich in sugars or resins.
If you spot water droplets on your plant leaves, don’t panic — it’s probably just guttation. This natural, energy-intensive process is a sign your plants are managing their water flow, especially in high humidity or early morning conditions.
Got any unique experiences or theories about guttation? Drop a comment — we’d love to hear from you!
Any if you are looking for an excellent fertilizer to help out with growing your plants from seed to harvest check out Liquid Gold!
Article by Dr Russell Sharp
If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to both our podcasts! Links can be found bellow:
Hydroponics Daily Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/207T7p7fw9sPjINfSjVXW2
Cereal Killers Podcast: https://t.co/eSEbBkTVHl