Bush Snails treatment

[Leafmite]

The caffeine was not very effective on the frogs but did kill the bush snails. The coffee strength of caffeine works very well for the snails but since you have them everywhere, you will need to do this periodically.

As for root damage, I have never seen any of this and for mainstream gardening, coffee grounds are recommended for plants and I have been using them for years with no issues. Bush snails, however, do damage roots.

Sevin (Carbaryl) works, too, but it is pretty toxic. I no longer use it but I had it on hand for the fruit trees (only thing that would work with the Japanese Beetles) so I tried it when I had bush snails the first time. I sprinkled it on the surface of the medium of my orchids and other tropical plants and watered well. The next day, there were dead bush snails everywhere. Here are some links with information if you are interested in going that route:

Carbaryl General Fact Sheet

https://cen.acs.org/environment/pest...ticide/100/i44

Pesticides: Carbaryl/Sevin

[RJSquirrel]

the more plants you have the fewer snails you find

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

the more plants you have the fewer snails you find

An elderly grower that I knew (alas no longer with us) insisted that there were two types of growers - those with bush snails and those that needed new glasses.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Roberta

An elderly grower that I knew (alas no longer with us) insisted that there were two types of growers - those with bush snails and those that needed new glasses.

This is exactly right!

Your life will be much easier when you give in to the fact that there is no way to eradicate bush snails, especially on the Big Island (I used to live in Hilo and also in Kona).

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by isurus79

This is exactly right!

Your life will be much easier when you give in to the fact that there is no way to eradicate bush snails...

BTW, the same applies to mites.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by rbarata

BTW, the same applies to mites.

This is true! But mites will actually kill off a plant and bush snails are just annoying.

[RJSquirrel]

Wish I could teach my cat to hunt for escargot

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

Wish I could teach my cat to hunt for escargot

Doubt that the cat would be interested in bush-escargot... a really big one is maybe 1/4 inch (4 mm) , most are much smaller. And they mostly hide, only come out when the pot is REALLY wet. And don't care for snail bait either.

[Leafmite]

They do not seem to be able to survive freezing temperatures so I do not have a problem with them unless I get orchids that have bush snails or bush snail eggs.
The problem with them here, though, is that we have to bring the plants inside and that is when the trouble begins. The bush snails continue to multiply but they have no where to go and,due to limited dining options, they wreck great destruction, even eating roots of plants.

Worse, if they get into a terrarium of miniature orchids, especially from the Pleurothallidinae subtribe...the reason I no longer post about those....

[KonaLinda]

"An elderly grower that I knew (alas no longer with us) insisted that there were two types of growers - those with bush snails and those that needed new glasses."

I like that! I have friends that say they don't have snails. I say, we all get our orchids from the same island vendors so if I have, you have.

Perhaps that elderly grower, if from Big Island, was Walter S. ! Thanks for all your suggestions. I might try Sevin or maybe coffee. I did pour a cup thru a pot yesterday but still found live snails today. I picked them off and put them in the coffee then! Thanks again!