Is this a sign of snails/slugs? (Vanda in vase culture)

[DeaC]

OK...something I didn't think of but never had an issue with cockroaches. I'm still not convinced of the root nibbling tho. And you can put the beer to much better use!

[wisdomseeker]

Hope you find out who the "nibbler" is.

Slightly off track with the OP's thread... about a month ago I noticed some damage near the base of several leaves on a Neost. Lou Sneary x Rhy. coelestis that I've been growing in a terrarium for about a year and a half. Other orchids in the terrarium had no signs of damage.

After closely inspecting this plant, I noticed a small snail with several jelly-like deposits (eggs?). I destroyed the snail and removed the deposits. Everything has been okay since (no signs of snails or further plant damage).

What I find weird, is how (or where) this thing was introduced, especially since this is an established terrarium with no new plant additions (or general changes) for the past 9-10 months. Don't know what kind of snail it was (only saw one), but it kind of looked like an aquatic type snail. It caused a little bit of damage, but (fortunately) not a lot. Here's a pic (not the best detailed close-up), but maybe you can make out the snail near the middle of the plant with jelly deposits clustered above.

[Sommeil]

Originally Posted by DeaC

OK...something I didn't think of but never had an issue with cockroaches. I'm still not convinced of the root nibbling tho. And you can put the beer to much better use!

It does seem a bit out there, but that's all I got lol
Do you have another theory in mind?

---------- Post added at 11:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:31 PM ----------

Originally Posted by wisdomseeker

Hope you find out who the "nibbler" is.

Slightly off track with the OP's thread... about a month ago I noticed some damage near the base of several leaves on a Neost. Lou Sneary x Rhy. coelestis that I've been growing in a terrarium for about a year and a half. Other orchids in the terrarium had no signs of damage.

After closely inspecting this plant, I noticed a small snail with several jelly-like deposits (eggs?). I destroyed the snail and removed the deposits. Everything has been okay since (no signs of snails or further plant damage).

What I find weird, is how (or where) this thing was introduced, especially since this is an established terrarium with no new plant additions (or general changes) for the past 9-10 months. Don't know what kind of snail it was (only saw one), but it kind of looked like an aquatic type snail. It caused a little bit of damage, but (fortunately) not a lot. Here's a pic (not the best detailed close-up), but maybe you can make out the snail near the middle of the plant with jelly deposits clustered above.

That does seem a bit unusual. Snail incubation is more or less 1 month, so it probably wasn't because it was a leftover egg.
Is the terrarium completely closed?

[wisdomseeker]

Originally Posted by Sommeil

Snail incubation is more or less 1 month, so it probably wasn't because it was a leftover egg.
Is the terrarium completely closed?

It's a mystery to me, and agree that it seems very unusual.

The terrarium is pretty much completely closed/sealed except for the ventilation strip under the front doors across the length of the tank, along with the slight gaps around the doors. Has a full size glass top with no gaps (36" x 18" x 18" exo-terra).

The only changes in the last 9-10 months had to do with re-mossing a couple of orchid mounts, and repotting a couple small phaps. Used fresh Orchiata bark from a remaining bag that I had sealed up in the pots, and fresh Spagmoss from a remaining bale I had sealed up for the mounts. Don't think it came from their end.

I would like to think the room where the terrarium resides is very clean and critter free, but what can I say: it's a mystery to me, and I have truly learned to never say never (e.g., that can never happen to me).

[Swimmingorchids]

hey wisdom,
you alright?
Must have been the moss you introduced. If it started as one lone baby snail it had 9 months to grow big enough to lay some eggs. That's what must have happened.

It's a good sign that you created an environment even a snail thrives in for 9 months heehee.

So back to the root damage - I just can't see how roaches could climb up a glass vase but sounds like they did.

I know that a layer of vaseline around the outside of the vase would prevent them getting in - but more importantly have you raised it off the ground yet sommeil?

[wisdomseeker]

Originally Posted by Swimmingorchids

hey wisdom,
you alright?
Must have been the moss you introduced. If it started as one lone baby snail it had 9 months to grow big enough to lay some eggs. That's what must have happened.

It's a good sign that you created an environment even a snail thrives in for 9 months heehee.

All is good (thanks for asking)! Had minimal damage from the recent storm... spent a day cleaning a crap-load of tree twigs/branches/pine cones out of the yard, due to the winds.

That is a very good possibility (the moss). Appreciate your input.

[DeaC]

St. Augustine Orchid Society - North Florida Orchid Growing may be helpful.

[syspila]

Slug Damage.