Pest identification
What's eating my coelogyne cristata?
Scale insects
Signs: Brown crusty bumps clustered on pseudobulbs and along leaf midribs; honeydew and sooty mold
Control: Scrub off with a toothbrush dipped in alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray; check and repeat every 3–4 weeks
Mealybugs
Signs: White woolly deposits inside leaf sheaths and at pseudobulb bases; yellowing and stunted new growths
Control: Dab colonies with isopropyl alcohol; treat whole plant with neem oil; improve air circulation to deter re-infestation
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes and slime trails on new growths and flower spikes, particularly at night
Control: Hand-pick at night; place copper tape around benches; use slug pellets containing ferric phosphate near pots
Keep coelogyne cristata pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Coelogyne cristata pests — FAQ
What is eating my coelogyne cristata?
Coelogyne cristata is a cool-growing Himalayan orchid most troubled by scale insects and mealybugs, which hide in leaf sheaths and on pseudobulbs. Spider mites can appear if humidity drops. Because this species requires cool winters, watch for slug damage when grown in outdoor frames or cool greenhouses.
How do I get rid of scale insects on coelogyne cristata?
Brown crusty bumps clustered on pseudobulbs and along leaf midribs; honeydew and sooty mold Scrub off with a toothbrush dipped in alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray; check and repeat every 3–4 weeks
How do I get rid of mealybugs on coelogyne cristata?
White woolly deposits inside leaf sheaths and at pseudobulb bases; yellowing and stunted new growths Dab colonies with isopropyl alcohol; treat whole plant with neem oil; improve air circulation to deter re-infestation
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on coelogyne cristata?
Irregular holes and slime trails on new growths and flower spikes, particularly at night Hand-pick at night; place copper tape around benches; use slug pellets containing ferric phosphate near pots