Pest identification
What's eating my phragmipedium eric young?
Scale insects
Signs: Tan or brown flat discs on leaves and stems; honeydew drip, sooty mold, gradual leaf yellowing
Control: Manually remove with an alcohol-dampened cloth; treat with neem oil or horticultural oil; repeat every 7–10 days for 3 rounds
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony masses in the leaf sheath and crown; leaves lose color and new growths abort
Control: Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol on cotton swabs; follow with an insecticidal soap spray; isolate the plant
Fungus gnats
Signs: Root damage from larvae in continuously moist medium; yellowing lower leaves; adult gnats around the pot
Control: Allow medium surface to dry between waterings where possible; apply Bti drench; use sticky yellow traps
Keep phragmipedium eric young pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Phragmipedium Eric Young pests — FAQ
What is eating my phragmipedium eric young?
Phragmipedium 'Eric Young' is a hybrid slipper orchid kept indoors or under lights. Scale insects are the chief pest, hiding along leaf midribs. Mealybugs cluster in the crown, and aphids target flower spikes. Its permanently moist roots also make fungus gnat larvae a recurring nuisance in bark-based mixes.
How do I get rid of scale insects on phragmipedium eric young?
Tan or brown flat discs on leaves and stems; honeydew drip, sooty mold, gradual leaf yellowing Manually remove with an alcohol-dampened cloth; treat with neem oil or horticultural oil; repeat every 7–10 days for 3 rounds
How do I get rid of mealybugs on phragmipedium eric young?
White cottony masses in the leaf sheath and crown; leaves lose color and new growths abort Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol on cotton swabs; follow with an insecticidal soap spray; isolate the plant
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on phragmipedium eric young?
Root damage from larvae in continuously moist medium; yellowing lower leaves; adult gnats around the pot Allow medium surface to dry between waterings where possible; apply Bti drench; use sticky yellow traps