snails and grasshoppers eating buds

[Rosiefuture]

I think there's also something on Rays info about using eucalyptus or teatree oil as a deterant. I must go back and have a look.

Marion

[Rosiefuture]

He says leave small saucers of the oil near the plants as the pests don't like it, don't put it on your plants.

Also did you know that salt kills slugs and snails? You can try sprinkling that around the pots but not in them. Also as long as it's not going to get washed away every day.

Marion

[rogerman]

Lately i have been sending one of my dogs into my nursery.... No rats or huge snails anymore yippeeeee

[drone]

I read somewhere about adding copper coins to the pot to deter snails, never personally tried it though. No luck with grasshoppers myself. Those things love my hibiscus flowers.

[susiep]

I hate snails and slugs!!!! They are a problem here, too. I use Sluggo snail bait and it works well. However all snail bait will turn into little furry balls of mold when it gets wet... so that is a problem. Also, I have seen the tiny slugs. I must try the coffee. I only drink tea so I don't have any coffee at home. I am going to the McDonalds drive through for a couple large cups. If it works, I will buy some and brew a large pot for all my sluggy friends!

[stefpix]

It is cheaper to buy cheap coffee at the 99 cent store and make some on your own than buy 2 cups at McDonalds. You can re use it, you can offer it to your visitors or learn to like it... And have a lot to keep slugs at bay! Even if you have no coffee maker you can boil it in a pot

[thakshila smith]

Do you boil the stuff and throw hot coffee?

[RobS]

Slicing long cucumbers and putting the on pots attracts a lot of slugs and snails to. Check during the late evening / night as they are nocturnal.

[JerseyGirlBecky]

Interesting, makes me wonder if I want to put them out in the summer. Wondering if it would help to put them up on some kind of table off the ground. Of course if they are mounted on trees that would not help. I am thinking of getting my husband to make be a slatted table to put mine on in the summer. Seems it would be easier to treat the table legs, at least it should keep the snails and slugs away. But, it is sooo cold here now, I have a long wait for summer.
Becky

[WhiteRabbit]

in desperation earlier this year (the less toxic snail pellets I had bought weren't working like the previous brand I had which worked great) I just started saving my used coffee grounds, and then put that in my flower planter. I had read on a couple websites, that they had no success against snails and slugs using coffee - that in very high concentrations caffeine repels them, but our coffee is much too dilute - I tried anyway, cos I figured there was nothing to lose.
I encircled the Gerbera daisies (snails LOOOOOVE these) heavily with coffee grounds, and sprinkled some more around in general - I was quite surprised and happy to find it definitely helped! Haven't tried this with orchids - fortunately I don't have much trouble with snails on orchids *knocks wood* - sometimes get some on cyms tho ...