Pest identification
What's eating my lobb's bulbophyllum?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony wax at pseudobulb bases and leaf axils; stunted new growth; yellowing older leaves
Control: Dab with alcohol-soaked swab; spray with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly until clear
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale speckling on leaves; webbing on undersides; increased damage in dry, heated indoor air
Control: Increase humidity; rinse foliage with room-temperature water; apply insecticidal soap or miticide every 5–7 days for 3 treatments
Scale insects
Signs: Flat or domed waxy bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf undersides; honeydew residue
Control: Remove with alcohol and soft brush; treat with horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks for 6 weeks
Keep lobb's bulbophyllum pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lobb's Bulbophyllum pests — FAQ
What is eating my lobb's bulbophyllum?
Bulbophyllum lobbii is a Southeast Asian indoor epiphyte with single large flowers per pseudobulb. Mealybugs and spider mites are the most common pests. Scale can also appear on the flattened pseudobulbs. Its relatively open growth habit compared to clustered bulbophyllums makes infestations somewhat easier to spot and treat early.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on lobb's bulbophyllum?
White cottony wax at pseudobulb bases and leaf axils; stunted new growth; yellowing older leaves Dab with alcohol-soaked swab; spray with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly until clear
How do I get rid of spider mites on lobb's bulbophyllum?
Fine pale speckling on leaves; webbing on undersides; increased damage in dry, heated indoor air Increase humidity; rinse foliage with room-temperature water; apply insecticidal soap or miticide every 5–7 days for 3 treatments
How do I get rid of scale insects on lobb's bulbophyllum?
Flat or domed waxy bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf undersides; honeydew residue Remove with alcohol and soft brush; treat with horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks for 6 weeks