Pest identification
What's eating my brassia caudata?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing and silvery stippling on leaf undersides, leading to yellowing of foliage
Control: Raise humidity, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; repeat weekly for a month
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white clusters in leaf axils and between pseudobulbs, with sticky honeydew deposits
Control: Treat individual colonies with rubbing alcohol; follow with neem oil spray on the entire plant
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown bumps on pseudobulbs and stems; persistent infestations weaken growth significantly
Control: Scrape off scales with a soft brush, apply horticultural oil; repeat every 2 weeks for 2 months
Keep brassia caudata pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Brassia caudata pests — FAQ
What is eating my brassia caudata?
Brassia caudata, the spider orchid, is grown indoors or in warm greenhouses and is most threatened by spider mites, which exploit its thin leaves in dry conditions. Mealybugs shelter in the warm spaces between pseudobulbs, and scale can colonize stems. Good airflow and routine inspection after watering help catch problems early.
How do I get rid of spider mites on brassia caudata?
Fine webbing and silvery stippling on leaf undersides, leading to yellowing of foliage Raise humidity, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; repeat weekly for a month
How do I get rid of mealybugs on brassia caudata?
Cottony white clusters in leaf axils and between pseudobulbs, with sticky honeydew deposits Treat individual colonies with rubbing alcohol; follow with neem oil spray on the entire plant
How do I get rid of scale insects on brassia caudata?
Hard brown bumps on pseudobulbs and stems; persistent infestations weaken growth significantly Scrape off scales with a soft brush, apply horticultural oil; repeat every 2 weeks for 2 months