Insects eating vanda roots

[mountain_goat]

I think we passed the coldest days here in Sydney and I'm thinking about moving my cold-tolerant Vandas outdoor. I think they are doing better outdoor except the fact that every now and then some insect eats the newest, thickest and juiciest root Does anyone have any tips on this? Last year was so bad I'm even thinking to wrap my vandas in some sort of mushy cloth to protect the roots.. For some reasons seems like vanda roots are the yummiest for them, although cattleyas are also suffering sometimes..

I sprayed neem oil ...bugs don't like the smell or taste of the oil, but be careful neem oil attracts fungi and black spots on leaves...so I had to do anti fungal on my vandas...they are budding and soon when it blooms I will post pics and I will focus on the fungi and the black spots...as of now all my vandas are healing

[terra_australis]

I think I read somewhere not to use neem oil on roots... I could be wrong. Something that deters insects would be best because the unfortunate thing about using an insecticide is it require the insects to start eating the plant before it kills them. Maybe you can make a cage out of flyscreen? My shadehouse is fairly well enclosed and I don't usually have too much problem with insects. Snails are my bane at the moment. Actually you probably won't have much of a problem with insects at the moment since it is still quite cold. It will be a different story once the spring weather kicks in!

[digitalgate]

snail , slug and cockroach normally go for the root. you can try catching them in action early in the morning before sun up and after sun down.

[mountain_goat]

Originally Posted by terra_australis

Maybe you can make a cage out of flyscreen?

Yes, that's what I'm thinking about but decided to ask a question in case someone knows a perfect insect spray that solves problem easier I still a have few months of fairly cold whether, you are right

[mountain_goat]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

snail , slug and cockroach normally go for the root. you can try catching them in action early in the morning before sun up and after sun down.

Yes, cockroaches I think or cricket. I think it's unlikely snails and slugs can reach it as it means they need climb up the tree branch and then go down wire hanger to get actually to the plant. Anyway, I hate them no matter who are they

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by mountain_goat

Yes, cockroaches I think or cricket. I think it's unlikely snails and slugs can reach it as it means they need climb up the tree branch and then go down wire hanger to get actually to the plant. Anyway, I hate them no matter who are they

KILL! Kill! I hate slug and snail.

[terra_australis]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

KILL! Kill! I hate slug and snail.

Even when cooked in garlic butter?

[Orchidchick]

Originally Posted by terra_australis

Even when cooked in garlic butter?

EEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

[terra_australis]

Originally Posted by Orchidchick

EEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

Not a fan of garlic, huh?

[Orchidchick]

Dan I think I'll leave the nasty slime surfers to you gastric dare devils and stick with my garlic butter shrimp instead.

[terra_australis]

Lol

[digitalgate]

Jedi master eats it raw. no galic.

[terra_australis]

Well that's to be expected when you've lived on Dagobah for so long...

@mountain_goat - I don't think we've passed the coldest day yet. Today was <bleepin> freezing down here and I don't expect it was much better up your way.

[Phalkiller]

Hi!

I also had some problems with snails and slugs last year. My phals ended up with just one leaf and most of them died after i moved them around. The snails will climb up that tree or wall just to reach some tasty bits. What i have found is that you can dump the snails in bleach or crush them with your shoes. however, you have to find them, early morning and or evening like digitalgate said.

[mountain_goat]

Originally Posted by terra_australis

@mountain_goat - I don't think we've passed the coldest day yet. Today was <bleepin> freezing down here and I don't expect it was much better up your way.

Yep, I was waaay too optimistic

[mountain_goat]

Originally Posted by Phalkiller

Hi!

I also had some problems with snails and slugs last year. My phals ended up with just one leaf and most of them died after i moved them around. The snails will climb up that tree or wall just to reach some tasty bits. What i have found is that you can dump the snails in bleach or crush them with your shoes. however, you have to find them, early morning and or evening like digitalgate said.

So you are saying the solution is every morning and night go and do some snail hunting? And I'm not even sure they are snails and not something else... Yes, looks like I need a green/shade house - that could be a perfect solution..

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by mountain_goat

So you are saying the solution is every morning and night go and do some snail hunting? And I'm not even sure they are snails and not something else... Yes, looks like I need a green/shade house - that could be a perfect solution..

the only way you are sure. Is to get up early in the morning to catch them. Wear long boot as you mind find something you don't like. snake is one of them.

[terra_australis]

I went out a little earlier and found a handful of snails making a light snack of my poor terrestrials. I terminated them with extreme prejudice then put down a bunch of covered trays with bait in them. Hopefully they take the bait and not the rest of my terrestrials :/

[Phalkiller]

The snails are eating the leaves on my phals again. This is the only survivor from last years infestation so i would really like to try and save it. I just went outside to see if there were snails but there were none. I was thinking of getting a habinero chopping it up and boiling it in water and then paint the water on to the leaves. Do you guys think this will work to deter them and if it did, would it hurt the orchids? Thank you for all your input.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by Phalkiller

The snails are eating the leaves on my phals again. This is the only survivor from last years infestation so i would really like to try and save it. I just went outside to see if there were snails but there were none. I was thinking of getting a habinero chopping it up and boiling it in water and then paint the water on to the leaves. Do you guys think this will work to deter them and if it did, would it hurt the orchids? Thank you for all your input.

hmmm... I wonder too.

[lmartiny]

The snails are out in full force here with all the rain we've had. They are everywhere you look. Thousands. I'm going to spread some pellets.