Bush snails

i've been trying to figure out how to use my castings without making a tea or whatnot but i haven't been able.
how do you water? i soak or spray and it seems to flush all the castings out...

i don't think there's anything in the castings that would deter the millipedes. in fact, i thought they often ate stuff that's decaying. perhaps the castings are already too decayed for them to eat so they leave.

 

I just water as usual. I pour the water through the plant into a bucket. I can only speak for my results. There were a lot of millipedes and now there aren't.

 

cool

 

Niche market for you, Bri.

 

Mesurol period!

 

Measurol is, of course, the most effective method of eradicating snails, but it is a restricted pesticide in many states.

Here's an idea from the terrarium world: carbon dioxide.

Put the affected plant in an enclosure large enough to add a block of dry ice without making contact, then seal it up. After 30 minutes or so, all critters will be dead - except of course for the plant, which may get a boost from the treatment.

 

I've used metaldehyde for bush snails and slugs (works well, but again, not nice stuff). You can get the baits, but you can also get it as a liquid to mix and drench. I think Lily Miller used to make the mixable liquid version.

I looked up mesurol, and it's a carbamate- i.e. it's in the same class as Sevin (carbaryl) but it tends to linger-- i.e. it has a loooong residual life, unlike Sevin and Orthene. It's pretty nasty stuff and quite toxic. Due to the long residual life and potential toxicity, Mesurol is restricted. Orthene (acephate- it's an organophosphate) is a bit different but kills via the same method. All are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Not fun, for humans or bugs, or anything else, though apparently for both Sevin and Orthene most mammals can metabolize and excrete them pretty well so they are a bit safer. I guess then it -is- possible for a strong dose of Orthene to have an effect, if snails, etc. are susecptible to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

I have not tried Orthene w/ snail/slugs, so I don't have anything past theoretical on that. I do know that it and sevin work well for sow bugs and milipedes.

 

Wow Ray, that is a tempting strategy!

UH Mānoa CTAHR Extension produced this nifty document.

 

Before resorting to harsh chemicals, I really recommend trying the worm castings. They are non-toxic: not harmful to pets or children. And they work well for me. I have also noticed that the scale have virtually disappeared. I always had to spend lots of time trying to eliminate those. I asked my friend about the scale and he reminded me that he had used the castings to combat scale. It worked well for him. Also, the tiny black bugs that used to roam all over the pots are gone too. According to the package, it is a good soil-conditioner.
I have mostly orchids planted in bark compounds. After I water, I apply a teaspoon or more if it is a large pot. The castings remain for several waterings. I assume I will need to reapply after a while, since they will wash out. By that time, the infestation should not be as bad as before the first application.
Whether it does anything for the medium, I can't say at this point. I can say no snails, no millepedes and no tiny black bugs (whatever those were). Nothing crawling around in the pots.
As for my mounted plants, I have tried applying the castings after watering and letting them remain horizontal for a while. I will try mixing the castings in with the moss when I remount them.

 

I know this is an old thread but I need some concrete proof of a method that has worked.I have hundreds of lepanthes that may soon become infested with these dam things.All super mini species as well all mounted and I am doing daily murders of these dam snails.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
chad

 

Chad, seal them up in a tank with some dry ice. You may have to leave it closed up for a couple days for it to kill all of them and reapply to get those that hatch from eggs. PM me if you want the link to a how-to from one of the frog forums.

 

Thanks so much.