What nibbled my cactus :(

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MalcolmP2
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What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by MalcolmP2 »

As per title !
I thought spines were supposed to be the great invention of cacti to deter marauders.

A day in the sun outside should do it good ?,,,, how wrong I was,,,, but what lurks in the English countryside that has evolved to thwart cacti ? :evil:
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el48tel
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by el48tel »

slugs? snails? caterpillars?
Endeavouring to grow Aylostera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Matucana, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia. Fallen out of love with Lithops and aggravated by Aeoniums.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by ralphrmartin »

Baby slugs seem very good at getting in between spines.
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el48tel
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by el48tel »

ralphrmartin wrote: Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:20 pm Baby slugs seem very good at getting in between spines.
And the growing point is particularly succulent (pun intended)
Endeavouring to grow Aylostera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Matucana, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia. Fallen out of love with Lithops and aggravated by Aeoniums.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
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MikeT
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by MikeT »

Definitely slug or snail. There is some dried slime visible on some of the spines below the damaged area.
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MalcolmP2
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by MalcolmP2 »

Thanks all,
whodav'thunk it ! Armour-plated gastropods !! :evil:

yes, a close pixel-peep and you're right - slime.
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by Phil_SK »

MalcolmP2 wrote: Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:06 pm Armour-plated gastropods !!
Believe it!
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Phil Crewe, BCSS 38143. Mostly S. American cacti, esp. Lobivia, Sulcorebutia and little Opuntia
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MalcolmP2
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by MalcolmP2 »

Phil_SK wrote: Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:28 pm168_6852.JPG
Ugh! in flagrante
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by el48tel »

One of the first cacti I was given, as a test, to see if I could strike a few offsets, had a mollusc gouge - hence the offsets. Needless to say I did learn how to strike offsets.
Endeavouring to grow Aylostera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Matucana, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia. Fallen out of love with Lithops and aggravated by Aeoniums.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
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Re: What nibbled my cactus :(

Post by AnTTun »

I found out that 70 cms of brick paved ground (as long as bricks are dry) is a perfect protection against all kinds of slugs. They need wetness beneath so they dry & die on their way to my plants. Also, most of them (for a reason unknown to me) don't like sempervivums and jovibarbas. They don't eat them and they rarely crawl over them.
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