Mushroom Preservation Methods and Tips for Eliminating Slugs and Snails on Orchids

These two sneaky orchid pests have caused many orchid growers great distress with their habit of coming out at night to steal food. The flower buds and new roots that are the pride of the plant and the hope of the grower are found chewed to a pulp by the next morning.

Slugs and snails are a particularly troublesome pest for those who grow orchids outdoors and in greenhouses.

These obnoxious creatures hide in dark places during the day, in damp spots in the greenhouse (especially where plants surround them), under flower pots (especially when the pots are placed directly on the ground), and even in the growing medium inside the pots. They crawl out at night, climb up to the seedlings and chew (actually gnaw) on tender root tips, flower buds and flowers. The white slime trails they leave behind expose the misdeeds of these intruders. For trapping and killing them, you can use apple peelings as bait, or use beer to lure them to a drunken death. However, the more common method is to use molluscicides such as metaldehyde or Bug-Geta when the weather is warm; these can be bought at agricultural supply stores or flower shops. After purchase, they are usually scattered around the planting area, above and below the flower benches, and placed in boxes on top of the growing medium, near the pot edges, but not on the root system, because plant roots are very sensitive to them.

Use withered flowers placed in or near the pots, and under the flower benches, as bait. At night, shine a flashlight, or before the sun shows its face in the early morning, you can find many small snails crawling on the withered flowers, and then capture and kill them.