What's eating my lady slipper orchid?

Lady Slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum) are terrestrial houseplant orchids most often troubled by scale insects on leaves and mealybugs at the base of the plant and in the medium. Spider mites attack in dry indoor air. Fungus gnats breed in bark/peat mixes. These slow-growing orchids are slow to recover, so catch problems early.

Small brown or tan flat bumps on leaf undersides and along the midrib; leaves show yellow spots above each scale; slow decline. Scrape off with a soft toothbrush; wipe leaves with a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil; repeat after 2 weeks.

White cottony colonies at leaf bases, in the growing point, and within the bark medium; stunted new growth. Remove with alcohol swab; drench the potting medium with diluted neem oil; isolate from other orchids.

Silvery stippling on strap leaves; fine webbing at the base of leaves in hot, dry heated rooms. Raise humidity; wipe leaves with a damp cloth; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf surfaces; repeat weekly.

Adults around the soil surface; larvae in bark and peat mixes attack fine roots and root tips, stalling growth. Allow medium surface to dry between waterings; apply Bti drench; use yellow sticky traps near the pot.