Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: Corrado & Rina on June 26, 2013, 07:31:17 AM
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I have no words? I found the plant chewed in the pot .... RIP
What do I do now? Do I pull out the rhizome to see how deep did the chewing go? Do I wait for autumn? Do I keep watering and fertilising?
Best,
Corrado & Rina
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If the rhizome is in tact I would continue doing what you would do if it was not eaten. It will come back next year.
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I would investigate the soil in pot closely to be sure that the slug or snail has not laid eggs in there. ::)
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It will probably come back next year, but will have a setback for a while - you'll have to wait a little longer for the flowers.
Personally I'd be inclined not to disturb the compost at present, but to water on a liquid slug/snail killer, perhaps repeating the process in a couple of months. That way if there are any hatching slug eggs, the slugs will be killed before they reach the surface of the compost and are less of a threat to wildlife and pets.
I've had a similar problem recently with snapped stems, this time caused by wind damage to young, floppy shoots whist I was away from home. Such are the joys of Cypripedium growing. :-\
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Hi,
commiserations, it happens to us all.
Maggi's point is very relevant: do search for snail eggs, they are usually laid in the first 5cm of the compost. It is worth watering the pot and any others you treasure with a slug killer solution. Without recommending any products, I use Slug Clear or Nemasys. ;)
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Providing the plants was a reasonable size then it will usually come back next year, although much smaller.
I usually reckon this sort of thing knocks them back a couple of years.
Keep the pot damp with the odd feed.
David