What's Chewing My Oncidium alliance?
Submitted by Bernie on Sun, 28/06/2009 - 16:47
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What's Chewing My Oncidium alliance?
Plant is just over 6 years old, is growing in and on a hardwood log, in the garden under a large bottle brush tree. It first flowered about 3 years ago. Last year it sent up one spike around May which was chewed about half way through just under where the flower would start by an unknown assailant. This year it sent up 3 spikes. The 1st spike was chewed early May, the plant still in the garden. The 2nd (see poor photo) early June after the log was removed from the garden and brought onto a protected back patio. The 3rd has survived and is now covered with a fine onion bag style bag. There are old snail trails on the log but none on the plant and no evidence of any snail damage to the plant. On the log is also a near specimen size Dendrobium gracillicaule (since about Feb 1994) which had a minor attack by the dreaded Dendrob beetle in the warmer months but I haven't seen any sign of them since i sprayed or since early autumn. It also has no evidence of snail damage.
Has anybody had similar experiences or can they offer advice or a solution?
Vote Result
Score: 0.0, Votes: 0
Slugs and snails
Hi Bernie,
What type of lesion you saw on the break of the flower stem?
I have been seeing these on my plants! If it is round-shaped, carved into the stem, I would think about slugs and snails.
I heard that Diatomaecous Earth is effective, but I never used it! [The diatomaceous particles, once swallowed , will burst the stomach of the slugs and snails.]. We are not sure if we could inhale it after spraying by duster to the plants?
http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/7710-Diatomaceous-Earth--2-lbs-.htm
I used the flat-bottom dish with 1:1 Beer/water, and put on the bench. They crawled in, drank it, and ...!
I sprayed my orchids with Beer/1/2 tsp of dish-washer/2 Gallons. It greatly decreased the incidence.
I'm not sure whether it is safe for the plants, though. I believe it is harmless, and eco-friendly!
Since a long time, I stopped using chemicals, and I have been using mechanical way: late-evening, early AM, with hand-picking sluags and snails, re-located them to the lawn!
TPLV
Thanks TPLV. The lesion is
Thanks TPLV. The lesion is round-shaped and carved into the stem as you suggest and, being always in the same place, I suppose it is the most appetising to the snail/slug. It was just the lack of snail trails on the plants which made me think they were not the culprits. I am now using an Eco friendly snail & slug killer where the active ingredient is iron chelate. It is safe for pets, flora and fauna and the iron chelates is beneficial to plants as it breaks down.
lesion
If I have a particularly special flower that I wish to protect from slugs and snails, I place and secure a clump of cotton wool beneath the flower. This seems to deter these pests.
bernabu
Coffee
Spraying your plant with strong black coffee also deters snails and slugs from chewing the spikes and growths.
Thanks.
Thanks.