For slugs and snails, I have gone almost entirely to killing them by spraying them with a 50/50 mix of regular ammonia from the store and water. Gardens in southern California attract large numbers of big snails and slugs, and it is incredibly satisfying to spray them and listen to them sizzle as their bodies dissolve! Persistence does pay off, as I have greatly reduced the number of snails and the damage they do by spraying 3 times a week in the dry season and more often when it's raining. My orchids are inside, in part so I don't have to protect them, but I've seen no damage to the leaves of any plant from the spray. Empty snail shells last a long time, so I just step on them if they bother me. Hunting snails about an hour after watering seems to give the greatest hit rate (yes, we count kills-I HATE snails). I've considered edging my beds with copper tape, but I'm doing ok with my spray and my reading indicates copper tape only works sometimes. Perhaps a soak in the ammonia mixture would kill hiding snails and slugs? You might also try setting up a damp, dark place to attract them and then spray them-I have surpise lillies whose leaves serve the same purpose.
Now, on to cheap orchids. I have as many orchid plants as I have room for on my designated shelves-4 with varying light levels. It started with one plant at a charity auction, but I must admit I always loved orchids and didn't know where to buy a plant. My orchids do better when I have more "free" time, and in the last year I have lost several to poor care from lack of time. Among my $25 orchids is one unknown cattleya that was in a tiny bag at Walmart for $5. I bought it as a challenge, and it is growing very well 2 years later. Talking to people recently, they all say they can't grow orchids. I told one woman "it's a plant, not a dog-if it dies, you get another and try again." Problem is, most people won't try again. That first orchid I bought didn't last very long, and I even went to the trouble to ask the man who donated it how to grow it! It was almost 20 years ago-web sites for help didn't exist, and it wasn't a mass-produced plant. I figure there are 2 problems-people won't keep trying to grow a type of plant if the first one dies, and people have less time and more ways to fill it. I should also point out that I'm not a member of any local orchid group or the AOS-I barely have time to take care of my orchids! Just my 25 cents (this got longer than I intended), Monica _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
