Pest identification
What's eating my brassia 'rex'?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale stippling across foliage; webbing on leaf undersides; accelerated damage in warm, dry indoor air
Control: Maintain high humidity; rinse leaves; apply miticide or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days for 3 rounds
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy round or flat bumps on pseudobulbs and undersides of leaves; honeydew and black sooty mold
Control: Remove with alcohol-soaked swab or soft brush; follow with horticultural oil spray every 2 weeks
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony deposits at leaf axils and pseudobulb bases; slowed growth and yellowing
Control: Manual removal with alcohol; neem oil spray applied to whole plant; repeat weekly for 4 weeks
Keep brassia 'rex' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Brassia 'Rex' pests — FAQ
What is eating my brassia 'rex'?
Brassia Rex is a vigorous indoor hybrid orchid — a cross between Brassia verrucosa and Brassia gireoudiana — that shares its parents' vulnerability to spider mites, scale, and mealybugs. Its large pseudobulbs are favored hiding spots for scale colonies. Humidity above 50% and fortnightly inspections keep the most common threats in check.
How do I get rid of spider mites on brassia 'rex'?
Fine pale stippling across foliage; webbing on leaf undersides; accelerated damage in warm, dry indoor air Maintain high humidity; rinse leaves; apply miticide or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days for 3 rounds
How do I get rid of scale insects on brassia 'rex'?
Waxy round or flat bumps on pseudobulbs and undersides of leaves; honeydew and black sooty mold Remove with alcohol-soaked swab or soft brush; follow with horticultural oil spray every 2 weeks
How do I get rid of mealybugs on brassia 'rex'?
White cottony deposits at leaf axils and pseudobulb bases; slowed growth and yellowing Manual removal with alcohol; neem oil spray applied to whole plant; repeat weekly for 4 weeks