Snails & Slugs

Copyright: Wikipests

Contents

1. Top Tips & Info
2. Symptoms
3. Susceptible Parts
4. Actions Needed
5. Ways to Prevent an Attack in the Future

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Top Tips & Info

• Eradication Difficulty - Easy
• Life Cycle: Snails 3 Years  &  Slugs 6 Years. 
• The female Snail can lay up to seventy eggs in her lifetime, whereas a female Slug can lay around thirty. Most eggs are deposited just below the soil line and resemble white circular balls. 
• Snails & Slugs can be brought onto a plant by two methods, either by being near an open window or during a short period outside during the spring or summer. 
• Small pests may go unnoticed for the first few weeks, but small circular bite marks will appear along the leaves in due course. 
• To eradicate an attack, take the plant outside and look around the entire foliage and pot. Check under its leaves, along the stems and around the pot. In some cases, the Snail or Slug will move onto other surfaces nearby to the plant's indoor location, so it's essential to be vigilant when addressing an attack.

Symptoms

Small circular bite marks will develop along the foliage on the unfortunate plant. After a short period, the affected leaf will become yellow or brown and warrant it useless. Prune off the seriously affected foliage to improve the growing conditions. You may also see the iconic slime trails as the pest travels across the plant, and possibly onto nearby specimens. 

They are also known to eat the basal structures of tubers, small rhizomes and even corms. With your finger, move the soil that's next to the plant's base to see if it is under attack. If so, take the specimen outside and replace the top two inches with a fresh batch of the appropriate potting mix ('Houseplant' compost for tropical plants, 'Cactus & Succulent' compost for arid-dwellers, and so on). Keep an eye out for a potential relapse within the oncoming weeks by checking the plant's base for further damage. 

Typical damaged of a snail on a Peperomia.

 Slug damage sometimes looks similar to 'teeth marks' as seen on this Echeveria. 

Susceptible Plants & Parts

Most areas above the soil line will be susceptible to Snails & Slugs, including its basal structure like corms, tubers and rhizomes. Stemmed plants are more likely to house an attack on solely its foliage. 

Plants - All houseplants are tolerable to Snails & Slugs, including Elephant Ears, Monstera & Succulents. 

Actions Needed

1. Pick off any visible bugs with gloves, keeping them in a container as they may slowly escape. When returning them to the outdoors (either in the garden or via woodlands), never relocate them near tender plants (like Hostas) that are intolerable to dealing with a potential attack. This will only further cause damage to your ornamentals, whether they're indoors or out.

2. Take the plant outside, GENTLY washing the stem, leaves, and each cubbyhole using an outdoor hose. It's important to spray the water in at least three different angles to ensure all Snails or Slugs fall off.

3. Scan the plant for any more signs of Snails or Slugs before bringing it back indoors. It'll be good to check all of your other plants in case a few escapees have taken refuge elsewhere!

Ways to Prevent an Attack in the Future

At the local plant shop or garden centre, inspect the soil of any plants you wish to buy. Most attacks come from nearby windows or after being placed outdoors for a short while during the warmer months of the year. When placing your houseplant outdoors, it's crucial to regularly keep an eye on the specimen, whether its a tropical plant or arid-dweller. 

Finally, store your bags of compost well by keeping them tight and enclosed, out of dry or damp areas. Never use soil that has been left outside for any length of time, due to the very high risk of contamination.

Book a 1-to-1 Consultation with THE HOUSEPLANT DOCTOR™

Need realtime advice for your Snail or Slug situation? Book a video or message consultation with expert Joe Bagley, THE HOUSEPLANT DOCTOR™ (author or ukhouseplants.com). Choose between a ten or thirty-minute session & a platform of your choice (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger or Zoom). Ask unlimited questions in one session, including queries on your dying/challenging plants, pests eradication, terrariums, repotting advice & everything in between! Available worldwide.