Mealybugs
How to tell
White, cottony fluff tucked into leaf joints and along stems, sometimes with sticky residue.
The fix
Dab each one with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, then treat with neem oil. Check weekly: they hide.
Most likely cause
Spider mites. Wipe the leaves down (avoid soaking the crown), raise humidity nearby without wetting the leaves, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly until clear. Isolate it from other plants.
What’s causing it
Scale
How to tell
Small, brown, limpet-like bumps stuck to stems and the undersides of leaves, often with sticky honeydew.
The fix
Scrape them off gently with a fingernail or old toothbrush, then treat with neem oil and keep checking.
Fungal or bacterial spot
How to tell
Soft, translucent, or black-edged spots on leaves, often after water sat in the crown or on the leaves.
The fix
Remove affected tissue with a clean blade, keep water off the crown and leaves entirely, and improve airflow around the plant.
Sunburn (not a pest)
How to tell
Dry, bleached, or brown dry patches only where strong direct sun hits the leaf, with no bugs or webbing. Moth orchid wants medium, indirect light.
The fix
Move it back from the glass, out of the strongest sun.
Prevention
Inspect new plants before bringing them home, keep water off the crown and leaves, check the undersides of leaves now and then, and isolate anything infested.
More for your Moth orchid
All Moth orchid guides
Related plants
Same genus or the same care pattern.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-19