Pest identification
What's eating my noble cymbidium?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes in young leaves and new shoots emerging from pseudobulbs; slime trails visible
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around the base; check under pots at night; remove debris and leaf litter
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on flower stems and buds; honeydew leads to sooty mold; buds may fail to open properly
Control: Remove by hand or with a water jet; insecticidal soap spray applied weekly until clear
Scale insects
Signs: Flat or rounded hard bumps on leaves; leaf yellowing and dieback in heavy infestations
Control: Manual removal with alcohol-soaked cloth; follow with horticultural oil application to all leaf surfaces
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing under leaves in warm dry spells
Control: Increase humidity and air movement; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every seven days
Keep noble cymbidium pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Noble Cymbidium pests — FAQ
What is eating my noble cymbidium?
Noble Cymbidium is a cool-growing species often cultivated partially outdoors in temperate climates, making it susceptible to both indoor pests like scale and mealybugs and outdoor threats such as slugs and aphids on flower spikes. Its thin-textured leaves can also harbour spider mites in warm, dry conditions.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on noble cymbidium?
Irregular holes in young leaves and new shoots emerging from pseudobulbs; slime trails visible Apply iron phosphate pellets around the base; check under pots at night; remove debris and leaf litter
How do I get rid of aphids on noble cymbidium?
Colonies on flower stems and buds; honeydew leads to sooty mold; buds may fail to open properly Remove by hand or with a water jet; insecticidal soap spray applied weekly until clear
How do I get rid of scale insects on noble cymbidium?
Flat or rounded hard bumps on leaves; leaf yellowing and dieback in heavy infestations Manual removal with alcohol-soaked cloth; follow with horticultural oil application to all leaf surfaces
How do I get rid of spider mites on noble cymbidium?
Pale stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing under leaves in warm dry spells Increase humidity and air movement; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every seven days