What's eating my disa tripetaloides?

Disa tripetaloides is a cool-growing South African terrestrial orchid cultivated in peat-free, lime-free mixes outdoors or under glass. Aphids commonly attack its flower spikes and soft new growth. Slugs can damage basal rosettes at soil level. Fungus gnats may colonize persistently moist growing media if drainage is poor.

Dense colonies on flower stems and new leaf tips; honeydew deposits and distorted bud development Knock off with water or apply insecticidal soap spray; check plants weekly during the flowering season

Irregular feeding damage on young rosette leaves and emerging shoots close to the growing medium Apply ferric phosphate pellets around the pot base; use copper tape; remove slugs by hand at night

Larvae chew fine roots in wet media; adult gnats hover around pots and cause stress through root damage Allow the medium surface to dry slightly between waterings; use Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis) drench and yellow sticky traps