For those who are curious, Jenna identified her
plant as a Majesty palm in a private email to me. Here is part of my reply:
These
plants grow very fast out in the direct Florida sun so they can be sold cheap. Unfortunately, they do not adapt well when they are moved indoors. They require more light than you can provide in your home - even in front of a sunny window - so they invariably decline within a year. If the store that sold you the
plant has a return policy, I suggest that you take advantage of it. Frankly, this is one
plant that I wish they would take off the market because of its poor record. The better nurseries and retailers do not sell Majesty palms.
The sticky stuff is "honeydew" secreted by scale insects. This is another indication that the
plant was not grown by a reputable nursery. You can't prevent scale - only growers can do that. However, early detection and treatment increases the chances of successfully eradicating it. If you intend to keep your Majesty palm, let me know and I will send you more information on scale insects.