Pest identification
What's eating my sobralia macrantha?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale stippling across long leaves and yellowing foliage; webbing at leaf undersides and stem junctions
Control: Increase humidity around plants; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly for three to four weeks
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony colonies hidden in leaf sheaths along the tall cane-like stems; weakened, yellowing foliage
Control: Remove with an isopropyl-soaked cotton swab; apply neem oil spray to all stem surfaces; repeat every 10 days
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or tan waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; chlorotic patches and sooty mold on honeydew
Control: Scrub off with a soft brush dipped in soapy water; follow with horticultural oil spray or systemic drench
Aphids
Signs: Clusters on emerging new growth and flower buds; sticky residue and slight distortion of soft tissues
Control: Blast off with a strong water stream; treat with insecticidal soap, keeping spray away from open blooms
Keep sobralia macrantha pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Sobralia macrantha pests — FAQ
What is eating my sobralia macrantha?
Sobralia macrantha is a large terrestrial tropical orchid grown in warm greenhouses or outdoors in frost-free climates. Spider mites are the main indoor greenhouse threat. Mealybugs colonize the cane-like stems and leaf sheaths. In outdoor plantings, scale insects and occasional aphids on new growth are also common.
How do I get rid of spider mites on sobralia macrantha?
Fine pale stippling across long leaves and yellowing foliage; webbing at leaf undersides and stem junctions Increase humidity around plants; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly for three to four weeks
How do I get rid of mealybugs on sobralia macrantha?
White cottony colonies hidden in leaf sheaths along the tall cane-like stems; weakened, yellowing foliage Remove with an isopropyl-soaked cotton swab; apply neem oil spray to all stem surfaces; repeat every 10 days
How do I get rid of scale insects on sobralia macrantha?
Brown or tan waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; chlorotic patches and sooty mold on honeydew Scrub off with a soft brush dipped in soapy water; follow with horticultural oil spray or systemic drench
How do I get rid of aphids on sobralia macrantha?
Clusters on emerging new growth and flower buds; sticky residue and slight distortion of soft tissues Blast off with a strong water stream; treat with insecticidal soap, keeping spray away from open blooms