Question
Hello, Ms. Kittle.  I am stumped by something my philodendron (affectionately named "Phil") has been doing lately since being repotted.  I received him from my mother about twelve years ago.  He was at that time an adult plant.  I took him with me to college, where he thrived in my window.  After I married and children came along, concern for his poisonous leaves made him the target of being up out of the way, mostly in shade.  Needless to say, he didn't do too well, but did continue to live.  Recently, after feeling that the kids are old enough now to leave him alone, my husband and I repotted him into a different pot, with new soil.  I have no idea how old the previous pot/soil was.  Since then, he has taken off!  However, he has started doing this collection of water beads at the edges of the leaves...almost looks like he's "crying".  I've never in the years I've had him seen him do this and I cannot find any info online about it or have yet to find someone who's seen a philodendron do this.  He's green, appears very healthy, lots of new leaves forming (the newer growth almost seems more prone to the water beads).  The beads will get so big and heavy they actually weigh down the leaf before the water (or whatever the liquid is) falls away.  I water mildly with city water about once a month or greater.  He sits directly in front of the living room window, where the sun pops up in the morning.  I am not spraying the leaves and have NO idea what this is...do you?  Thanks for the help.  

Answer
Michelle,

The edge of some leaves contains special cells called hydathodes. When humidity is high and there is too much water in a plant抯 system, the hydathodes excrete water as well. The water contains a small amount of plant sugars and salts. When enough of this water accumulates on a leaf, it drops from the tip, onto your floor. Make sure to check the soil for dryness before you water each time. The guttated water won抰 hurt the floor but I抎 wipe it up before it gets sticky.

Since you just repotted it he has more soil to use the moisture out of so be very careful about not watering him until he is dry. Otherwise it is a natural phenomenon and this can happen to other plants also. It is not harmful to the plants as long as the plant is not being overwatered.

Good luck.

Darlene