I recently planted a 10 o'clock flower and it started off beautifully. But then I noticed some weird white fungus on it, and I tried using a baking soda and water mixture. While I managed to get rid of the fungus, unfortunately, most of the plant died. Luckily, some new healthy branches are sprouting from the dead stems. However, I've now discovered a massive snail infestation! There are hundreds of them, and while I initially ignored them, I'm looking for ways to protect my plant and help it thrive since it's showing some resilience.
3 Answers
You might want to try setting out shallow dishes filled with beer. The snails are attracted to it, and they'll climb in but won't be able to get out. Just a heads up, though—if you’re in a household that doesn’t allow alcohol, that might not work for you!
Your plant might have been weakened from the fungus and the baking soda could have contributed to that. While you're waiting for the new shoots to get strong, you can try covering them with something like an upside-down glass vase to protect them. You can also manually remove the snails daily and relocate them far from your garden. It's tough, but once your plant matures, it should start producing natural defenses against pests like snails! Just keep in mind that without other plants for the snails to munch on, they’re likely to keep coming back to yours.
I had a tough time with Asian tramp snails, but funny enough, a long drought ended up wiping them out. Maybe letting the soil dry out a bit could help? Just keep in mind that your plant needs water, so it’s a balancing act!
I don’t want to risk my plant dying from lack of water! What do you suggest instead?
Yeah, my parents totally have a no alcohol rule, so that's out for me. Any other ideas?