What's eating my oncidium sphacelatum?

Oncidium sphacelatum, the golden shower orchid grown indoors, is most commonly troubled by spider mites on its grassy foliage and mealybugs at pseudobulb bases. Scale insects can colonize canes and undersides of leaves. Thrips occasionally damage flowers. Its fine, strap-like leaves make spider mite infestations hard to spot early.

Fine pale stippling across the narrow leaf surface; leaves yellow and tips brown; webbing under leaves. Raise humidity and rinse foliage; apply neem oil or miticide spray weekly for three to four weeks.

White cottony masses at pseudobulb bases, in leaf axils, and in bark mix; plant weakens and leaves pale. Swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil drench and repeat every two weeks.

Brown or white waxy bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf undersides; honeydew deposits attract sooty mold. Manually remove with a soft toothbrush; treat with horticultural oil spray and monitor fortnightly.

Silvery or brown streaking on flower petals; buds may distort; tiny dark insects visible on flowers. Remove affected blooms and spray foliage with spinosad; use blue sticky traps to detect and reduce populations.