Pest identification
What's eating my calanthe triplicata?
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white colonies at leaf bases, in sheaths, and around pseudobulbs; plants weaken and produce honeydew
Control: Spot-treat colonies with isopropyl alcohol; spray the whole plant with neem oil every 10 days; repeat until resolved
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf undersides; foliage yellows and growth is stunted over time
Control: Scrape off manually with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil or a systemic imidacloprid drench for heavy infestations
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in large leaves and damaged new shoots in outdoor tropical beds; slime trails present
Control: Apply ferric phosphate pellets around outdoor plants; hand-pick at night; use copper-tape barriers on containers
Aphids
Signs: Dense clusters on flower spikes and emerging growth; sticky honeydew and potential sooty mold
Control: Knock off with a strong water jet; treat with insecticidal soap spray, keeping away from open blooms
Keep calanthe triplicata pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Calanthe triplicata pests — FAQ
What is eating my calanthe triplicata?
Calanthe triplicata is a robust evergreen terrestrial orchid grown in shaded outdoor gardens in tropical climates or in greenhouse conditions. Mealybugs and scale are its most common indoor threats. In outdoor tropical beds, slugs attack young shoots, and aphids colonize flower spikes during bloom.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on calanthe triplicata?
Cottony white colonies at leaf bases, in sheaths, and around pseudobulbs; plants weaken and produce honeydew Spot-treat colonies with isopropyl alcohol; spray the whole plant with neem oil every 10 days; repeat until resolved
How do I get rid of scale insects on calanthe triplicata?
Hard brown bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf undersides; foliage yellows and growth is stunted over time Scrape off manually with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil or a systemic imidacloprid drench for heavy infestations
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on calanthe triplicata?
Ragged holes in large leaves and damaged new shoots in outdoor tropical beds; slime trails present Apply ferric phosphate pellets around outdoor plants; hand-pick at night; use copper-tape barriers on containers
How do I get rid of aphids on calanthe triplicata?
Dense clusters on flower spikes and emerging growth; sticky honeydew and potential sooty mold Knock off with a strong water jet; treat with insecticidal soap spray, keeping away from open blooms