Pest identification
What's eating my sleeping beauty cymbidium?
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied insects clustered on new spike growth and buds; sticky honeydew and malformed flowers
Control: Spray with water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat weekly through bud break
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy brown or tan bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf nodes; yellowing foliage and sooty mould
Control: Scrape off with a soft brush dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray with horticultural oil
Spider mites
Signs: Silvery stippling on leaves; fine webbing in leaf axils; worse in centrally heated environments
Control: Raise humidity, rinse plant under tepid water, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days
Keep sleeping beauty cymbidium pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Sleeping Beauty Cymbidium pests — FAQ
What is eating my sleeping beauty cymbidium?
Sleeping Beauty Cymbidium, a hybrid grown for its long-lasting flowers, is most threatened by aphids on its flower spikes and scale on its pseudobulbs. Spider mites flare in dry heated rooms. If summered outdoors, slugs and snails may damage new growth. Weekly inspection and prompt neem oil or insecticidal soap treatment keeps the plant healthy.
How do I get rid of aphids on sleeping beauty cymbidium?
Soft-bodied insects clustered on new spike growth and buds; sticky honeydew and malformed flowers Spray with water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat weekly through bud break
How do I get rid of scale insects on sleeping beauty cymbidium?
Waxy brown or tan bumps on pseudobulbs and leaf nodes; yellowing foliage and sooty mould Scrape off with a soft brush dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray with horticultural oil
How do I get rid of spider mites on sleeping beauty cymbidium?
Silvery stippling on leaves; fine webbing in leaf axils; worse in centrally heated environments Raise humidity, rinse plant under tepid water, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days