Snails.....
 

:hello
I was doing my morning inspection of the orchids and I found 2 tiny snails on the bamboo skewer in one of my catts. Is this bad? What do I need to do to get rid of these pests? Or are these okay to let hang out?

Thanks!
Katie :)

Snails and slugs are very bad to have around. They eat your plants. Ray has posted a few treatments on his Home Remedies web page.

First Rays' Home Remedies

I'd squish them or flush them. They're egg layers, difficult to erradicate, and munch on healthy plant tissue.

I HATE snails, even the small ones can do some damage. They really seem to like the green tips of roots. I just use some snail "bait" from the garden center.

I use 'beer' snails love it & drown in it!

If we could choose the manner in which we would die, I'd choose that. :)

Thanks for all your responses! I think I'm going to repot on Wednesday into fresh media and do a thorough cleansing of the roots and leaves. Then I'm going to use the coffee technique and treat all my orchids. Last but not least, I'm gonna use the potatoes on all orchids to ensure they are gone!
I'll keep you updated on how it works!
Thanks - Katie :)

I presume you are referring to the very tiny Orchid snails. There are mixed feelings as to what damage they cause but I have seen a university study showing them eating orchid roots. When I had them as gifts on a purchased vanda, I treated with coffee dregs two or three times a week apart and have not seen any since. There is a university study about caffeine as a toxin for these but I could not follow up on it nor contact the prime investigator to confirm how he made up his caffeine mixture. The concentrations he used were much higher than in coffee but there is anecdotal information that coffee works to which I have added.
Nick

Holy Smokes. Just figured out who the snail culprit is! It's my new project plant "Miltonia". What's up with that? Seriously, no lie, the potato was BLACK when I picked it up off the Miltonia this morning. NASTY! so i've quaranteened into the bedroom for the time being...Now what to do? It's in a basket full of some type of moss. Should I go out and buy new moss and replant? Suggestions?

Thanx-Katie :)

OKay - I replanted my miltonia in new sphagnum moss...I also bought Ortho Bug-Geta
Ortho Bug Geta Snail & Slug Killer, 2 lb # 0464060 by Scotts Lawn Care

Has anyone ever used this product? Any suggestions about how much to sprinkle on each plant?

Thanx-
Katie