The Tropical Fruit Forum
Citrus => Cold Hardy Citrus => Topic started by: will2358 on July 26, 2019, 12:25:39 PM
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What do you think are eating the leaves on my seedlings. Not all just here and there. I had one ponkan seedling and it has been eaten. First it was just a seedling here and there. Now I see something has eaten on the leaves of my little Bloomsweet. Does anyone have any suggestions?
(https://i.postimg.cc/GB4fbPrg/citrus-eaten.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GB4fbPrg)
Ponkon eaten
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZBF2QbJJ/citrus-eaten3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBF2QbJJ)
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What kind of soil are you using? Is it a sterilized medium? You may have a critter in your soil that comes out to dine and goes back in the soil to sleep during the day. You will not see him. Are you looking for mites and catapillars? Leaf loss for young seedlings is a serious problem. I suppose you have looked for the obvious culprits. Try some malithion. It leaves a white residue on your leaves and most pest fear it, with good reason.
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I am using an organic potting soil. I know I have slugs. Could it be slugs? I have Bacillus Thuringiensis and some diatomaceous earth. Would either of these work. I showered the plants and soil with dipel dust so I will wait and watch.
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Slugs could be your culprit. The bt should do them in. So should the Dip. If it is slugs you should see their slime trails. Do you have slugs appearing after a rain? Put a saucer of beer near your plant and if its slugs they will be in the saucer....DEAD.
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Slugs feed at night and hide during the day. The eat leaves and prefer young tender leaves....such as seedlings.
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Spread the di earth on top of your soil.
...that also will do it. Unless your seedlings were completely stripped they will recover after you stop the eaters.
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BT is for caterpillars. Read this: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html (http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html)
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Just go to the nursery and get a package of slug bait.