What pest is eating new growth? Need quick help!

[orkidea]

New growth on my phals is being eaten by some pest. Literally chunks are missing from a new leaf, flowerstem and the column of a blooming flower. I found the first bite marks two days ago and more damage this morning. I have not seen any flies, larvae, or any unwanted visitors on my plants. I grow my plants in the house. I'm desperate to get advice as I want to save the new flowerstem that is growing so nicely. Many thanks in advance!

[Dendian]

I had a slug do damage like that to a blooming Catt. Check it at night - you might see it. Also look for silvery trails on the media/pot. I had some teeny tiny ones in one pot - they did a whole bunch of damage before I caught and squished them. You can use the soap soak to kill them (they hide in the media too) - or pick them off and squish them (very satisfying if somewhat messy).

[orchids4me]

Catapillars grasshoppers.... The pattern of eating. If now slug trails around them. You may need to go out and catch the culprit at night with a flash light.

[kmarch]

A mouse?

[Shannara]

Originally Posted by orchids4me

Catapillars grasshoppers.... The pattern of eating. If now slug trails around them. You may need to go out and catch the culprit at night with a flash light.

I agree with Emmaye. I would go out late with a flashlight. Could be slugs, snails, beetles, etc. You gotta do some detective work and found out what the bugger is.

Good luck.

Shann~

[digitalgate]

That is done by small slug or snail . Soak the whole plant in water for 30 mins or so . The snail should float to the surface .

[orkidea]

Thank you all! I also suspected slugs/snails although I hadn't seen slimy tracks anywhere in the plant. I did some more reading and learned that snails/slugs are attracted to potato slices. I put several slices of potato on the medium and - I FOUND SEVERAL TINY TINY *******S!!! They are barely visible without a magnifying glass (<1mm) and therefore too small to leave any traces behind. I'm going to keep potato slices on the medium for awhile and check them often. It's worth a shot if you suspect slug/snail damage.

[PaulB]

I agree about soaking it for a bit. If snails or slugs are in there, they'll come out.
One thing you can do to keep them out is wrap a very thin gauge copper wire (available at hardware stores. around the pot, two or three times. They HATE copper and won't cross over it. Not sure, but I think it carries a small electrical current and they don't like getting buzzed. I've done this for years so I know it works. The thinnest you can find is good enough.

[NancyH]

I liked this thread! I am going to get some thin copper wire and wrap it around the bottom of the legs of my greenhouse benches. I always find one or two a week hiding under a plastic bin top I have on the greenhouse floor that I use as my trap. I like the idea of the wire though in case I am not around for a few days and would not be able to get the suckers!
Nancy

[lmartiny]

I had the same problem all summer and some are inside the patio. I didn't find many cuprits to explain the damage. i.e. snails. I was wondering if it is roaches at night? Ugh!! Many of my Phals will be sporting holey leaves.

[terra_australis]

How about laying down a circle of salt around your growing area? As well as snails and slugs it will protect your plants from evil spirits!

On a serious note, I've heard of the copper thing and there is some evidence to show it works but I wouldn't put absolute faith in it. Reducing the hiding places for snails, promoting habitats for predators and manual removal are the most effective control methods in my experience.

[Ray]

If it was a mollusk, wouldn't you see a slime trail?

[jayfar]

Originally Posted by kmarch

A mouse?

That's a real possibility. I'm pretty sure that's what happened to the edges of leaves on a few of my smaller plants with leaves not far above the tabletop. I've seen no signs of snails in my apartment, but I know I have mice.

[vanessa]

I learned a trick about slugs and snails from a dear friend of mine. Pour beer in a container such as a bowl and place the bowl around where you have problems with the snails and slugs. They are attracted to it and will climb into the beer and die. Kinda gross to clean up I know, but it works!

[PaulB]

Originally Posted by terra_australis

How about laying down a circle of salt around your growing area? As well as snails and slugs it will protect your plants from evil spirits!

On a serious note, I've heard of the copper thing and there is some evidence to show it works but I wouldn't put absolute faith in it. Reducing the hiding places for snails, promoting habitats for predators and manual removal are the most effective control methods in my experience.

Actually, I was hanging out at my local nursery a couple of weeks ago, and there is now a copper "tape" available for this very issue. I think it's about an inch or two wide. Not sure how many inches long. I had to chuckle, because it's very expensive and a bit of overkill, tho some may think it looks pretty wrapped around their pots.
The stuff I use is available in a hardware store, or HD or Lowe's. Copper wire-24 Gauge x 100 feet - about $5 bucks or so.

Also, snails also won't walk over sand. I guess they don't like it getting in their swim suits or between their little toes. I suppose too, that Diatomaceous earth (fossilized Diatoms) would work well too, because they (snails) don't like walking on sharp surfaces.
Diatomaceous earth is available at autoparts stores, rather cheap.Sort of the cosistency of course sand. Sold in bags- for absorbing oil or other liquid on floors. Can't remember the brand, but its about $6 bucks a bag.

[orkidea]

Originally Posted by Ray

If it was a mollusk, wouldn't you see a slime trail?

I didn't. The slugs were very tiny, smallest less than a millimetre in diameter, size of a grain of sand. They didn't leave obvious slime trails behind but they sure had an appetite. Luckily I didn't lose the flowerspike. It's gaining length despite the scars. Can't wait to see some cute phal flowers! The potato trick worked for me. I suspect that the snails live in the medium and that's why I kept getting them with potato slices. The copper wire may help keeping the snails out of the pot in places that are prone to them, e.g. in green houses. Mine was probably already infested when I bought the plant at a nursery.

[terra_australis]

Originally Posted by PaulB

Actually, I was hanging out at my local nursery a couple of weeks ago, and there is now a copper "tape" available for this very issue. I think it's about an inch or two wide. Not sure how many inches long. I had to chuckle, because it's very expensive and a bit of overkill, tho some may think it looks pretty wrapped around their pots.
The stuff I use is available in a hardware store, or HD or Lowe's. Copper wire-24 Gauge x 100 feet - about $5 bucks or so.

Also, snails also won't walk over sand. I guess they don't like it getting in their swim suits or between their little toes. I suppose too, that Diatomaceous earth (fossilized Diatoms) would work well too, because they (snails) don't like walking on sharp surfaces.
Diatomaceous earth is available at autoparts stores, rather cheap.Sort of the cosistency of course sand. Sold in bags- for absorbing oil or other liquid on floors. Can't remember the brand, but its about $6 bucks a bag.

I guarantee you the snails I have around here could not give a rat's hindquarters about silica sand or shell sand and I expect diatomaceous sand wouldn't phase them either. I thought perlite would hold them at bay but I went out this morning and found one had slimed its way over a bed of perlite to munch on the juicy shoots of some of my terrestrials. There's not much that will stop them if they really want something to eat.

Anyway, I introduced the little bugger to Mr Boot - he don't take no prisoners!

[Dendian]

I didn't have any visible trails on my plants either - some of those slugs/snails were teeny - smaller than a pencil lead! I have been using the potato trick too (thanks orkidea) - as well as the beer. I got quite a few with the potato - but I don't think I would notice if they were in the beer - they are too small! I did find one pot with aa bunch of white round eggs - I dunked it in the soap/cinnamon extract/water solution - and I have them separate (away from ALL plants) and am watching to see if they will hatch - or dry up and die

[Cym Ladye]

It sounds as if you need to cover all bases and set a mouse trap.

Cym Ladye