i would normally go with that it is insects that produce honeydew like aphids or scales but considering that there is a drop on every single point right at the end then maybe its just something that new growth produces? if the bubbles arent on other older leaves or if the leaves arent sticky then i woudnt worry about it for now. just keep a close eye on it and see if they begin appearing all over the plant.

could we see the whole plant ...

i suspect this is nbd ... and i surely wouldnt be thinking bugs.. nor spraying any kind of go all over what i suspect is a very healthy plant ...

if you have other plants.. you might isolate this one until we figure it out.. that never hurts ...

ken

It's called guttation, and it occurs when the plant's internal water pressure becomes elevated to the degree it pushes water through small but naturally occurring openings in the plant leaves (often stomata or hydathodes) and sometimes stems. It commonly occurs at the end of vascular bundles (leaf veins) at leaf tips and margins. Your plant has compound leaves so in your case it's occurring at the end of each leaflet's mid-vein. Guttation is common in some species of plants, a normal part of their physiology, and not as common in other plants, although it can occur in any plant. Conditions that limit respiration, including closed stomata during the dark cycle, over-watering, humid conditions, cool conditions, low light, and defoliation, are all potential causes or contributors. Any number of organic compounds dissolved in the sap oozing from these leaf openings leave various deposits on leaf surfaces when the water in the sap evaporates and the sap thickens or crystalizes. What you're seeing is salt, sugars, carbonates/lime, latex, ....... condensed sap.

It's nothing to worry about unless it drips on floors or a brand of the fungaluglies start growing on the secretion (most common is sooty mold), which could eventually reduce the leaf's photosynthesizing ability.

Aside: Water movement up the plant is energy driven, and pruning/ reducing the canopy volume w/o reducing the root volume can cause an increase internal turgidity (water pressure). With nowhere for the excess water to go, it often leaks from openings in leaves and sometimes lenticels or other openings in the plant.

Edited to say: Over-watering is its most common cause where it is not occurring as a normal part of the plant's physiology. In cases where it is caused by over-watering, the consequence of the symptom is nothing to worry about; but the cause of the symptom is. Over-watering seriously limits your plant's potential in terms of growth, vitality (health), and appearance, and sets the stage for fungal infection of roots by any of the several damping-off diseases.

Al

Thank you for all the great information!

Guttation is common on Schefflera arboricola. Mine do it whether indoors or out, summer or winter.