What's eating my buttonhole orchid?

Buttonhole Orchid (Epidendrum radicans) is often grown outdoors in warm gardens, making it vulnerable to aphids on flower spikes and new growth as well as caterpillars on leaves. Indoors, spider mites and mealybugs are the primary threats. Scale insects can colonize the reed-like canes.

Dense colonies of small insects on flower spikes and soft new cane growth; sticky honeydew and distorted buds Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage beneficial insects such as lacewings outdoors

Fine yellow stippling on leaves; webbing under foliage in hot, dry weather or low indoor humidity Mist foliage; apply insecticidal soap or miticide weekly; improve air circulation around the plant

White cottony tufts at nodes and leaf axils along the canes; yellowing and weakened growth Wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with neem oil spray; repeat weekly

Irregular holes chewed in leaves and flower spikes, especially when grown in outdoor beds Pick off by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage; use physical exclusion netting