What's eating my stanhopea wardii?

Stanhopea wardii is a pendant-flowering tropical orchid requiring open basket culture so its downward flower spikes can emerge. Grown in humid indoor or intermediate greenhouse conditions, it is most commonly affected by spider mites and mealybugs. Thrips occasionally damage buds and flowers. Good air movement prevents most outbreaks.

Pale stippling on large leathery leaves; webbing at leaf undersides in warm dry periods. Spray leaf undersides with insecticidal soap or neem oil; increase humidity and repeat weekly.

White cottony colonies in pseudobulb sheaths and within the root mass of the basket. Remove old sheaths, swab colonies with isopropyl alcohol, and drench basket roots with neem oil.

Silver streaks or brown scarring on flower petals and buds; tiny fast-moving insects visible on flowers. Remove and dispose of affected flowers; spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps.