Originally Posted by
DrTimPerkins
On extended thaws and sap runs, the bulk flow of sap transitions from coming down from above the taphole over to sap being pulled upward from below the taphole. When this happens, assuming your vacuum is good enough, water is pulled up from the soil into the roots and up the stem and out the taphole. This dilutes any sugar that is present in the wood. The result is that the sap flow becomes fairly constant, but the sap sugar content will steadily drop until there is a refreeze and recharge of the stem with moisture. Sap sugar content (and sap flow rates) will go up again when the trees subsequently thaw.