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

[Sommeil]

Hey folks, I noticed these crescentic bite-outs on my vanda's roots today. I have it in vase culture. I'm suspecting slugs or snails. What do you think?

Also what would be best for treatment in a vase culture? I've read some threads on here about using Bug-Geta but I don't have much surface to put the pellets.

[DeaC]

I also have some in vases but never saw this. I think it's just an area that is pushing out more root. Some of the roots in my vases are smushed against the glass too but manage to grow anyway and seem unaffected by the obstruction.

[Sommeil]

They definitely are at the root tips. But they didn't have these notches before.

[Selmo]

Is this plant inside or outside? Have you actually seen a snail or slug, in or around your plant? Have you seen slug trails on the container or around it?
Bug-Geta will work even if just placed around the plant not actually on the plant , but the beer in a tray may work better in this case. Place a plate under the vase and pour some beer in the plate. The snails/slugs will have to travel though the beer to get to your plant. Snails/slugs are attracted by the beer and will drown in the beer.

[Sommeil]

The vanda is placed outside. I haven't necessarily seen any trails but it may be possible that it's because of the watering routine. I have seen snails on other nearby plants a few times. I'll give the beer a go too.

---------- Post added at 12:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:56 AM ----------

Will Gardensafe Slug and Snail bait work in the same manner? I would have to order the Bug-Geta whereas I can just pickup some Garden safe from a nearby store.

[Selmo]

The active ingredient in Bug-Geta is metaldehyde, if Gardensafe snail and slug has metaldehyde in it, then it will work the same.

[Sommeil]

Hmm, it has iron phosphate as the active ingredient. Between the beer and the Gardensafe slug/snail bait I'm hoping to have results. If not I'll order some of the Bug-Geta.

I'm planning on putting the vase in a tray and filling that with beer tonight to essentially make a beer mote. And since I'm not interested to find out how the roots react to the slug bait I'm going to fill a saucer with it and just place it on the slotted basket in the vase.

I appreciate the help! I'll keep you guys updated.

[DeaC]

I think it's highly unlikely that slugs would get into a vase sitting on a table(?)outside. Weather permitting it was where I'd keep sev. of my vandas in vases and never experienced such a problem. In fact,never encountered a bug issue at all.

[Sommeil]

It's sitting on the porch floor lol.

I think it's a bit unlikely as well, but I can't really think of what else would lead to nibbled roots

[Sommeil]

Well DeaC, you may have been right! After setting out the beer and pellets for 2 nights I didn't see any slugs or snails (or any traces of them), but I certainly noticed an influx of cockroaches. They were having themselves a wild party with the beer I provided.

These nasty buggers had the nerve to hide inside the vanda vase when I turned the porch lights on

I don't have definitive proof that the roaches were the ones nibbling the roots, but a little bit of research suggests they like to eat orchid root tips as well as flower buds.

I went and sprayed the perimeter with spectracide, so maybe that will finally solve my issue.