Well, I must disagree with some of you - in the past I did manage to kill some orchids by sprinkling anti-snail pellets on the bark in their pots. I guess it depends on what kind of pellets you use. I don't take that chance any more. I used to have a huge problem with these tiny snails that spread from one orchid to another and ate the newest root tips at night. The pellets did not get completely rid of them and, as I said, killed a couple of plants in the process. I then tried submerging the orchid pots in water for an hour or two, which made the adult snails crawl up out of the bark into the open for me to murder them, but that didn't kill the eggs ... so more snails in a week or so. I tried caffeine (using dissolved NoDoz tablets) and that was a waste of time. Finally, resorted to REAL CHEMICALS! Malathion solution poured into the growing medium just like watering the plants did the trick completely after about 3 weekly applications. Do NOT spray it on new growth or flower spikes, though, as it will burn them. Roots seem to take it OK. I do this now a few times a year just as a preventative measure and am gladly snail-free.
|
Threaded Mode
