What nibbled my cactus :(

[Paul in Essex]

The adore Agave mitis. I reckon it would be a sure fire way to keep the blighters off your hostas - plant some Agave mitis nearby.

*Said for comedic effect, not suggesting Agave mitis enjoys woodland conditions.
** Well, it does in Mexico, sometimes.

[MalcolmP2]

Interesting, I'll tell the boss about that, she is into hostas !
When I was young and fit we had a very large veg patch so we know all about slugs , , , at least we thought we did !! We previously only ever kept cactii on windowsills etc., didnt occur to me that they were at risk out in the garden in the summer, I feel so stupid now.
Could have been worse,,,, only that one was badly nibbled and a M. elongata with a very small bit damaged.
Live and learn, never too old !

[el48tel]

Interesting, I'll tell the boss about that, she is into hostas !
When I was young and fit we had a very large veg patch so we know all about slugs , , , at least we thought we did !! We previously only ever kept cactii on windowsills etc., didnt occur to me that they were at risk out in the garden in the summer, I feel so stupid now.
Could have been worse,,,, only that one was badly nibbled and a M. elongata with a very small bit damaged.
Live and learn, never too old !

I have had some success with used coffee grounds.

[Chris L]

I can second that snails/slugs don't mind spines.

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[MalcolmP2]

Another excellent portrait, shame about the ugly sitter

I have read that egg shells are good as well. Also copper wire or tape. I have lots of sticky-backed tape so I may try that next time. Perhaps raise some lettuce seedlings first as sacrificials.

[rreynolds]

I've had almost an entire mammillaria consumed by a rat or mouse once. It was kind of a shock how much cactus pulp they could consume in one sitting.

[Jim_Mercer]

Surprising how much a snail/slug can eat in a short time. I'm sure all the leaves were there yesterday - evidence of slime trail and I did find some snails behind an adjacent pot

[iann]

I have to remember to make a mollusc patrol tonight. There have been some trails in the greenhouse, although no damage. I evicted one offender but either it came back or there is another. Also something has been doing a number on the big Disphyma outside - no snail could eat enough to do it serious harm but all the chewed leaves are unattractive.

[MikeT]

There have been some trails in the greenhouse, although no damage. I evicted one offender but either it came back or there is another.

Snail's have been shown to have good homing instinct, Ian. So either take it out for a run in the car before releasing, or use the technique I've developed to disable the homing mechanism. Squash flat.

[el48tel]

Are we not trying to prevent the demise of our native hedgehog? Good food for them.