What's eating my yellow moth orchid?

Yellow moth orchid (Phalaenopsis mannii) is a warm-growing species orchid susceptible to the main Phalaenopsis pests: mealybugs and scale at leaf bases, thrips on its yellow-barred flowers, and fungus gnats in bark compost. Its slender leaves can be dehydrated by mite feeding in very dry air — watch for dullness.

White waxy clusters at crown and leaf sheaths; leaves yellow and wrinkle as sap is withdrawn Swab with isopropyl alcohol; drench crown and roots with diluted neem oil weekly for a month

Brown raised bumps on leaves and spikes; sticky honeydew and sooty mold develop over time Remove manually with alcohol-soaked cotton pads; spray with horticultural oil on a monthly schedule

Silver streaks and brown scarring on yellow-green petals; buds may fail to develop properly Excise damaged flower spikes; spray with spinosad; avoid placing plant near open windows when in flower

Fine webbing and pale stippling on leaf surfaces in very low-humidity indoor environments Raise humidity to 50–70%; mist leaves and rinse in the shower; apply insecticidal soap thoroughly