sticky substance sounds like scale. Have you checked the leaves and branches for insects at all? They'll look like oval brown squishy things, blend in with the bark very well and like the underside of leaves.

Here is a pic of 1 of the leaves. I think this is what you are talking about. The sticky stuff is on the floor too. What can I do about this? Thanks.

You can use cotton swabs or Q-tips and alchohol and rub all the ones you see off..
Then treat with a horticultural oil to suffocate remaining ones....Does this consistently for about 3 weeks...

Wash the leaves off too since the sticky dew will attrack ants keeping the cycle going..

MIke

Thank you...can I get horticultural oil at Lowes or Home Depot? By consistently do you mean once a day?

Yes lowes or Home Depot will have neem oil. It is considered organic and you will need to follow the instructions on the spray bottle. I believe it will need to be sprayed every 2 weeks. I would get as much of the scale off of the leaves and the plant before I started treating with neem oil. Just my opinion, others that are much more knowledgable than I am will surely be along to help as well.
Evan

Neem oil works for me. Use as directed. Be sure to spray tops and bottoms of leaves. Spray again in a week or 2 after the first application - this will kill any newly hatched scale babies.

I have also used horticulture oil with success - it works the same as neem oil. Both use the "smothering" effect to kill scale. Neem is considered organic while horticulture concentrates are refined petroleum. Both should be available at lowes or garden centers.

Neem doesn't work exactly the same as Hort oil, it works better, because in addition to smothering the adults, it also is a growth regulator that stops the larvae or nymphs from growing into the next stage of life, and then they die, soon. Without reproducing, yay!
So you get a two for one knock back with Neem oil.

But the affect is not long lasting beyond a week or so, you'll need to check the label for how long, I forget exactly. So you do need to apply it a few times.
Great stuff!