What's eating my maudiae slipper orchid?

Maudiae Slipper Orchid is a popular hybrid susceptible to mealybugs and scale insects hiding in its tessellated foliage crown. Spider mites can colonize leaf undersides in dry rooms. Its relatively robust constitution makes it forgiving, but the dense leaf arrangement means pests can multiply before detection — inspect at every watering.

White waxy tufts at the crown and between leaves; honeydew residue and distorted new growths Swab with isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil solution weekly for 3–4 rounds; isolate from other orchids; recheck roots when repotting

Flat brown bumps on leaf surfaces and undersides; leaves yellow and growth slows under heavy infestation Remove with alcohol-dampened cloth; treat with horticultural oil every 3 weeks; strip any dead leaves to eliminate refugia

Fine yellow stippling on leaves; visible webbing at leaf bases when air is warm and dry Increase humidity to 55–65%; wipe leaves with damp cloth; apply insecticidal soap spray; repeat at weekly intervals

Root damage from larvae in overly wet, bark-free mixes; plant fails to establish or wilts despite watering Allow medium to partially dry between waterings; apply Bti drench; use yellow sticky traps to catch adults