Slugs and Snails devastating my Tropical plants.

[@jaxtreasures]

My husband put out chicken gravy in a bowl, and the snails love it . The slugs found a way in and a way out . Good luck with the pests

[@tikitropicals65]

Thank you

[@TropicalGardening]

The last few years I've have exactly the same problem here in the Netherlands. I replaced all Hostas for ferns and I'm now slowly replacing the cannas for gingers. The gingers have no damage at all! This year they even eat arisaemas, cycads, fatsias, palm seedlings and ricinus, crazy..! To protect my really precious plants I've started to use the old fashion slug pellets again. It's the only thing that's working againt the invasion. I hate to use this but all other (slug-friendly) things aren't working.

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I’ve stopped growing plants like hostas as well. I think the problem is when the slugs and snails are in such large numbers they will seek out plants they don’t usually eat. We need to just keep the numbers down in which ever method suits. Cheers.

[@TropicalGardening]

@@tikitropicals65 Yes indeed, thanks!

[@normabadillo3235]

Your garden is absolutely beautiful ❤❤❤❤

[@tikitropicals65]

Thank you

[@sharonparsons3222]

So impressed by your dedication 👏👏👏

[@tikitropicals65]

Thank you I’ve now collected and removed over 1200 slugs and snails so I think I’m winning now.

[@brocktoon8]

I tried hand-gathering them from my holiday home garden for about a week. Hundreds upon hundreds were gathered day after day. I walked them over to some fields across and down the street. Eventually I just got so sick of it though. But I think if you live on your property year-round and keep it up, you will eventually see progress.

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I’ve been collecting well over a 100 a night so I’m at about 900 plus removed now. Much less damage now and they are getting harder to find so hopefully it’s working. Cheers.

[@ejk181186]

I had issues with slugs and snails for years. I used nematodes for the first time this year and I've noticed a massive difference. I would highly recommend.

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Nematodes seems to be highly recommended so I might have to look into getting some. Cheers.

[@WoodlandT]

I feel for you. I haven’t had a terrible year for slugs. But the deer started showing up a few weeks ago, right after I’d commented how little deer pressure we’d been having this year. Between my yard and my neighbor’s, they have done a huge amount of damage. Shrubs stripped down to twigs, perennials eaten almost the the ground, it’s pretty demoralizing

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Thankfully I don’t have deer problems but I do understand your pain.

[@tikitropicals65]

I used to work on a large garden and the deer used to eat loads of the plants we put in. It was a nightmare.

[@dianewhitworth4953]

I don't normally have much of a problem, even with my hostas. This year is another story. I go out early mornings as i can't stay awake to do the night search, they're still on the plants. I've just come back from holiday and they have even got the canna growth that normally doesn't get touched. But it is the red canna that has been hit the hardest, which sits next to a hosta and the canna has more damage. I have a cat that keeps hunting at my stream, i think its killed my frog and it has got some birds, so not sure if thats the reason. So sorry they've got your favourite plants, I hope you mange to get on top of it

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I’ve collected at least another 200 since making the Video so hopefully I can give the plants chance to recover.

[@kathrynleithall5906]

I do exactly the same and have done for several years all the way through May and beginning of June. This year it's just gone on for longer as it's so wet. I take them every morning and drop them off near a stream away from anyone else's garden. I have a large wildlife pond with frogs and toads and see signs of a hedgehog and also lots of birds in the garden but always have slug & snail overload. I can't kill them either!

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Yeah I don’t mind if nature does the job for me with the frogs and Toads but when it’s not that hard to collect and relocate I think that’s how I will handle them for now at least. Cheers.

[@peteseaton7741]

I feel like I've tryed everything from encouraging wild life to garlic sprays but this year I've started to make a peace offering to the god of molluscs. I have been putting down a few cabbage and lettuce leafs down and it's helped keep them away from my more prized plants.

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I’ve been using a few leaves from my plants in my greenhouse to tempt them to eat those rather than my garden plants. I’ve been out collecting slugs and snails every night and numbers are definitely diminishing and I have hardly any damage now but it is a chore. Cheers

[@finnkel]

They love the succulents. They are eating thick Opuntia pads, flower buds, any new growth, I find them in my rock garden all the time, the sharp grit doesn't do a thing to deter them

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Yes I’ve found they are very persistent in getting to the plants they love. I removed over 800 slugs and snails this week so hopefully things should be getting better. Cheers

[@Plant_Mad_Paul]

I feel your pain bro 😢 my hostas got hit hard and now the Canna have started to get munched on now, it realy winds me up tho that they will crawl all the way to the top and eat the freshest shoot that’s about to burst open. Plus they can readily eat the Ricinus and the brumansia and not get effected by any toxins 😮 😂

[@tikitropicals65]

I’m feeling optimistic. I collected another 100 plus last night so eventually the damaged has to be reduced. If not I will have to find another plan. Cheers

[@EL-te5om]

I have exactly the same problem in my garden too! Not only do I have to deal with an extreme amount of slugs, but I also have to contend with caterpillars having a meal on my cannas in the front garden. It's been an awful year for slugs so far. Hopefully, summer will return, and that sun and warmth will accompany that possible return of proper decent Summer weather in the next few weeks🤞 Good luck with your war with the slugs and snails, I've just been out covering them with salt, which really does help with the ones on the patio, deck and grass, but with the plants the only way is that I just have to pick them off🙄 Definitely recommend salt as that works basically straight away!

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Luckily I haven’t had problems with Caterpillars yet. That would send me over the edge so I feel for you. Cheers

[@SHOREPATROL37]

Had snails 🐌 on the Fatsia’s the other night. I’m out every night with the torch it’s the only way and squashing evil weevils too . Last few years I’ve used copper coins around the brugmansias and canna’s and that seems to work. I’ve given up on hostas they can eat them

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I was thinking about putting copper around the stem of my Brassaiopsis. Now you’ve said that I might give it a go. Cheers.

[@njpringle]

The old style slug pellets have now been banned in the UK. The pellets now sold are ferric (iron) phosphate based. I bought some recently and they have 'suitable for organic gardening' on the label. I googled and it seems they are wildlife friendly, but worms can also eat them. I haven't tried them yet, but like you mention these brown slugs are all over the place. I had 3 pumpkin plants I planted 2 and both were gobbled up in days. I held one back in case this happened, thinking if it was a larger plant it would survive, if it lost a few leaves. I planted it last week, about 30cm in height and now there is nothing left of it. 😡I had also crushed up some egg shells and scattered them at the base of the plant, as I had read this is a good natural way to create a barrier. It failed miserably, but perhaps I had not put enough down.

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Yes I see the old pellets had been banned. Still a little apprehensive about using pellets though. It is so frustrating as a gardener but I suppose it’s just another problem we need to deal with. Cheers

[@shayandevi9870]

Bonjour, ci en Belgique, c'est une catastrophe également ! J'ai réglé le problème avec ces deux solutions ! 1) j' utilise l'eau salée dans laquelle j'ai cuit des pâtes ou des pommes de terre. 2) Je découpe des oignons en petits morceaux et j'en mets au pieds de mes plantes ! Ce système fonctionne vraiment bien chez moi où il fait très humide !

[@tikitropicals65]

Thank you.

[@skajdius8056]

Same problem, i have beer traps, ive been out and collected them up at 11pm, tried broken egg shells, the wool pellets, just cant win, something is even eating my Tetrapanax!!

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Yeah it’s been a bad year. I’m hoping that I can reduce the number s enough that the plants can grow out of the damage and the wildlife gets the ones I don’t.

[@mjr5319]

Just trying slug nematodes, bought it online and is a natural parasitc worm that kills slugs and snails. Ive got a dog too so like you, need to be careful what I put down. First application yesterday so not seen any changes yet. I did buy some plants online and they advised that any white residue on the leaves is due to the use of nematodes and just rinse it off, if it works for a nursery should be equally effective in the garden 🤞

[@thecornishbiker9323]

Used them on my garden 4 years ago after squishing 60 a night ,now there are maybe less than 5 . Those nematodes work really well

[@mjr5319]

Ah that's great to hear, hoping I'd not poured money down the drain!

[@lynnwright1566]

I’ve just tried the nematodes too! I’m hoping it works too as it definitely seems like an invisible treatment 🙈

[@tikitropicals65]

I’m definitely going to consider using nematodes if the damage continues.

[@ninahmarshyn8655]

Oh no ! That's infuriating and sad. You need a pet hedgehog. I've had a million snails 🐌 Thinking of cutting a small gap in my fence to see if a hedgehog comes in 😂

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi we did have a hedgehog next door last year but not seen it this year. We did leave a hedgehog hole in the fence as well.

[@swordjumper]

I've had the same problems. The Dahlias were being decimated and every night I'd go out to find an army of slugs and snails feasting on my newly planted plants. I've tried grit and wool but they got through. Someone suggested using nematodes and I sent away for a pack. Since watering them in the slug problem has disappeared. Even in pots of cannas that were not treated they have left alone. I'd highly recommend nematodes as an effective treatment. Not cheap but they do work.

[@tikitropicals65]

Thank you. I am considering the Nematodes if I can’t control the problem soon. Cheers.

[@juliepeacock3576]

If it has not rained a ring of table salt around plant will stop them , it worked for me, especially if they young plants, I don't put in ground until the bit more mature

[@jimmyalvinewart6361]

I have had slug and snail damage on my cannas, and dahlias. I put my hand up, admit I use the slug pellets and beer traps. I could not take it anymore. I was suffering, and I feel your pain

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I understand anyone different methods necessary that work for them to combat this invasion. For me especially with a dog that sniffs through everything I couldn’t risk pellets plus I want the frogs in the garden to not get poisoned so they can help in the fight.

[@roscowoodward6037]

I've watched videos on cinnamon and garlic spy , hope this is a good thing 😀 bought a pound bag today

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I’ve heard they help deter slugs and snails but not sure how well it would work after it rains and washes it away plus that’s when they are most active. If it works let me know. Cheers.

[@roscowoodward6037]

@@tikitropicals65 it’s a good orchid food enhancement and pests hate it. My orchid is ten yrs old now, so for slugs it’s all out war I’ve started with front garden many dirt and bushes by hand Pringles on the paths , if successful I’ll let you know.

[@user-zy8ks1fu2x]

Sorry for your beautiful garden. I live in Holland, exactly the same problem. It really surprised me what they eat this year, indeed: everything ☹️

[@tikitropicals65]

Hello. Yeah it’s been a bad year for it but hopefully the summer will improve and we can enjoy the gardens more and see the positives of growing these plants rather than the negatives. Cheers.

[@elissa_lana]

Your bronze leaf cannas look the same as mine, same growth, same devastation!

[@tikitropicals65]

Yeah not good is it. Hopefully we will get some heat soon to help the Cannas out grow the damage. Cheers.

[@valeriencls3770]

Vous avez beaucoup de plantes en pots Monsieur Tiki j ai commencé à planter les mi en terre pour certaines plantes et peut être un début de solution pour vous .j ai aussi fais des petits monticules cailloux pour mes succulentes sortes de rocailles ça conserve ça me plaît bien j ai moins de dégâts de cette façon et les pierres rendent la chaleur aux plantes

[@tikitropicals65]

Hello. I have lots of plants in pots but it’s the plants in the ground that are the most eaten. I think they have lots of places to hide. Thank you.

[@irismoles9369]

The slugs and snails are really a pain this year Something as eaten the leaves on the top of my lilac tree it’s about Twelve foot tall

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Yes they can get high. I was at a family members the other day and I could see snail slime about 10 foot up the house wall. They are such a pain. Cheers

[@gregoldman958]

Beer traps , garlic spray and dug a wildlife pond to attract more frogs all worked to a degree. But still having to go out with a head torch and collect every time it rains 😢

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Sounds like you’re working hard to battle the problem. I hope your garden sees the benefits of your labour. Cheers for the comment.

[@Harry-qy5gn]

Some one said put broken egg shells round plants as slugs can't go over them

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I have heard this but I’m not sure it would be effective for me. My plants are so close they Could climb from one plant to another so I would have to do my whole garden. I think it may help protect individual plants if they were more spaced out. Cheers.

[@brocktoon8]

I tried that, they went right over them 😑

[@MannsGreenhouse]

Kind of glad I’m not the only one… keeps us updated with your method, I hope it works out. I had the same thing with my hardy aloe… the chunks they have taken out, diabolical.

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I didn’t think they would touch my Aloes but they love them. Never had a problem in previous years though.

[@valeriencls3770]

Chez moi en Bretagne toutes les jeunes feuilles sont entamées les ravageurs trouvent leurs sucres nourriture dans les feuilles tendres les succulentes également a la maison sur la terrasse ou la ou j entrepose mes pots le matin j ai un crapaud souvent qui son tour de propriété vous devez en avoir aussi surtout que vous avez fait un point d eau

[@tikitropicals65]

Hello. I do have Frogs and Toads but not many now. I need to reduce the amount of slugs to even the numbers out. Thanks.

[@thecatsinn3905]

I have finally got my cannas out the ground and the bananas as they were just being eaten as soon as they showed by using cat litter silicate crystals there sharp and I’m soooo relieved there working as I’ve had many losses to. Also I think there,ll be good to break up my clay soil win win !

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. That sounds an interesting method of protecting your plants. I had to dig Up all my Dahlias as they ate them before they could ever really start. Cheers

[@jurassicgardendiary1023]

Might be worth buying some cheap hostas from tesco or whatever keep in pots as sacrificial plants so they eat them and not the 'good'/expensive stuff. Then if you have people round can just move pots out into back for time being so cant be seen.

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. I do put leads out from plants in my greenhouse that I know they like to help me catch them but the numbers this year overwhelming. Hopefully I can get the numbers down enough to make a difference.

[@daphneking3954]

Do you have hedgehogs? I encourage them and wild birds they certainly seem to help with slug and snail armies

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Next door had a hedgehog that used to come in our garden and we have a hole in the fence to let it through but not seen it this year. The garden gets loads of birds and wildlife but the numbers of slugs and snails is overwhelming this year. Cheers.

[@Gina0151]

I had a family of 4 hedgehogs in my garden last year and year before but I only saw one 2 months ago looking poorly and nothing since. I have never used slug pellets just because I didn’t want to risk poisoning the hedgehogs but as they seem to have disappeared I am tempted to put pellets down. I’m wondering if I can ‘adopt’ and rehome some hedgehogs from a rescue centre? I need 20 hedgehogs urgently lol 😢 Come back hedgehogs! I’ve got thousands and thousands of flipping slugs and snails - it’s an awesome all you can eat buffet. Mind you next neighbour kept putting out gourmet cat food for the hedgehogs so of course no wonder they can’t be bothered eating my slugs when there’s a gastro dinner service next door. Bugger it. Pellets it is. War time

[@paulineellison9047]

you should use nematodes slug not harm full to anything but the slugs

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. Seems to be the winning method at the moment. I’m definitely considering it. Cheers

[@Gina0151]

2024 shall be called Year Of The Mutant Ninja Slug. My brugmansia are completely stripped bare of every leaf down to bare stem. Same with dahlias, brunnera, alstromeria, surfinias petunias, even sunpatiens and my cannas and Musa Basjoo are being turned to holy paper doilies. And snails are eating the gladiolus leaves before they even start to bud. Never had that happen before on gladioli. So Hedgehogs were always my only slug defence but alas they’ve deserted me this year. I’m out every night in my bathrobe and flashlight at 11pm and even 1am and then again in the morning. But the sheer amount of slugs and snails this year is astounding it’s like a mutant population explosion like I’ve never known in 40 years of gardening. So soul destroying when there’s nothing left of the plants and you know they won’t grow again now untill next year

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. It is soul destroying considering the work we put into our gardens but we can either keep fighting the fight or adapt our gardens to have less plants they like to eat. I’m trying to do both at the minute but I hate not being able to grow certain plants just because of slugs and snails so I’m going to keep collecting them and hope nature helps with the rest.

[@t0mhd572]

Get slug pellets down mate

[@tikitropicals65]

Honestly I can’t risk pellets with my dog. It sniffs and eats everything so I will have to keep collecting for now as much as it pains me. Cheers.

[@lawman1965]

​@tikitropicals65 , the harmful ones were banned. The new ones are safe for wildlife and are certified for organic gardening.

[@leighclapton5068]

Yes I had the same problem a razer blade worked for me 👍

[@tikitropicals65]

Hi. My slugs are all clean shaven so I don’t think the Razer would work for me 😂 Cheers

[@thecornishbiker9323]

Nematodes Nematodes Nematodes

[@tikitropicals65]

This may be a method I might have to resort to if I can’t control the damage.

[@thecornishbiker9323]

@@tikitropicals65 used to get 50 a night on squish patrol and now im down to 5 and a few snails only took 2 treatments over 2 years to get numbers right down.