What's eating my blue lace zygopetalum?

Blue Lace Zygopetalum ('Blue Lace') faces the same indoor-pest pressures as other Zygopetalum hybrids: spider mites thrive in low humidity, scale colonizes pseudobulbs, and fungus gnats breed in consistently wet bark mix. Good air circulation, moderate humidity, and letting the mix dry slightly between waterings reduces all three threats.

Silver stippling and fine webbing on leaves; leaves lose color and may drop prematurely in severe cases. Increase humidity to 50–60%, mist foliage, and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days until clear.

Hard or soft waxy bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf bases; honeydew leading to black sooty mold. Manual removal with a soft brush and alcohol swab, followed by neem oil spray on all surfaces. Repeat bi-weekly.

Larvae chew fine roots in wet bark; adult gnats hover around the pot. Root damage causes wilting and yellow lower leaves. Allow the top layer of bark to dry between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps for adults; drench with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) to kill larvae.