Decapitated Babies

[Peatmoss]

So after weeks of delicately caring for a few beautiful seedlings I woke this morning to find they have all been murdered.

Cut off about half an inch above soil level, upper stems looking like they've been stripped but a pretty clean cut.

The plants were elevated amongst some more robust clones that were left untouched. There was quite a large fly buzzing around

in there but i've never seen a fly attack a plant. This is an indoor grow. Has anyone encountered this sort of thing? My initial thought

was a rat but i havent seen any droppings or other signs of these bastards. The plant were not eaten just lopped.Any ideas?

[Buster100]

So after weeks of delicately caring for a few beautiful seedlings I woke this morning to find they have all been murdered.

Cut off about half an inch above soil level, upper stems looking like they've been stripped but a pretty clean cut.

The plants were elevated amongst some more robust clones that were left untouched. There was quite a large fly buzzing around

in there but i've never seen a fly attack a plant. This is an indoor grow. Has anyone encountered this sort of thing? My initial thought

was a rat but i havent seen any droppings or other signs of these bastards. The plant were not eaten just lopped.Any ideas?

 

I had a similar experience last year and found a few catapillars under some of the leaves of my youngest plants..... hope you the whats responsible sooner rather than later. Buster

[Peatmoss]

Interesting..its got me stumped.I did remove a couple of small green caterpillars a few days ago that ate a small amount of leaf. Only a couple of days ago i introduced some Super Skunks from another source..could have been a fatal mistake.

I've got to say that fly was one angry mother...banging its head against the light and the walls and almost the size of a blow fly. The seedlings were in perfect nic lastnight...something has moved from seedling to seedling either during the night or within 3 hours of the light turning on this morning.

The stems were actually pretty tough on closer inspection...whatever it was it knew what it was going for.

[The Hash Nibbler]

Hey matey That sounds like a slug or snail. It's just their style to behead seedlings like that. Look around for a shiney slime trail thats dried out and you'll find the culprit. Sorry you lost your babies. This is why you don't use outside soil in your pots, brings the bad bugs with it. Peace. Gh72

[Auntynorm]

G'day Peatmoss. I reckon GH has it by the balls. Slugs and/or snails will go through a young plant like shit through a goose. I had a bastard of a time with them last outdoor grow, until I let the chooks loose, complete destruction and the plants got a good dose of chook crap for a feed. Chooks are very persistant hunters, you should check 'em out. What ever you do, don't ditch 'em as mine all grew back. It took a little while and some tlc but it worked. You can use snail/slug baits but make sure its the one that contains IRON CHELATE, a natural, organic substance that dries out the critters, not metaldehyde, which is a very wicked chemical poison, dogs love the smell of it and it will kill your dog stone dead. :guitar: Edited May 17, 2011 by Auntynorm

[Peatmoss]

Thanks for your assistance guys..much appreciated. Tonight i'm going to make a surprise visit and see if a can bust the culprit in action.The tops are still nice and healthy and sprung back up in a cup of water so i've put them in some rockwool to try and perform a miracle.Was a bit of a shame as they were a few of the nicer seeds from the Sensi Indoor mix..which i should add arrived very promptly from Planet Skunk about a month ago.I don't really recommend ordering seeds online but thought you guys might be interested to hear of a recent success story. I guess as a consolation i gained some nice Super Skunk at the expense of those poor kids.I'll update later on if they put out some roots and Auntynorm i'll follow your advice and hang-on to the remains....will be interesting to see what comes from this.

 

Thanks guys

[Peatmoss]

Pretty sure i've found the culprit...little green caterpillar...same as the couple i removed earlier. On closer inspection he was still munching away on the tops. Seems i underestimated their appetite. Certainly pays to open your eyes...perfect camouflage. Anyway the tops are in rockwool and looking healthy for now so time will tell.

 

Cheers

Peat

[allhailthebud]

hey Peatmoss,

 

yeh ive been stumped before over an hours or two period watching my seedlings disappear slowly.... found a tiny spider in there, like a little jumping spider... but quickly found the culprit after 5mins of properly searching.. i found a GIANT slug going from pot to pot munchin' all my seedlings along the way. I had 3 clone domes side by side, it had basically munched all the seedlings in the one dome and was heading for the 2nd dome.

 

Sneeky bastards can ruin everythin, i allways chuck round snail n slug bait round the outside of seedlings now. Birds are a worry too - ive had a heap of seedlings chew'd up by birds... bastards they are.. kinda a worry when you only got a few seeds to germinate...

[merl1n]

G'day Peatmoss. I reckon GH has it by the balls. Slugs and/or snails will go through a young plant like shit through a goose. I had a bastard of a time with them last outdoor grow, until I let the chooks loose, complete destruction and the plants got a good dose of chook crap for a feed. Chooks are very persistant hunters, you should check 'em out. What ever you do, don't ditch 'em as mine all grew back. It took a little while and some tlc but it worked. You can use snail/slug baits but make sure its the one that contains IRON CHELATE, a natural, organic substance that dries out the critters, not metaldehyde, which is a very wicked chemical poison, dogs love the smell of it and it will kill your dog stone dead. :guitar:

My Mrs had a problem with snails and slugs getting to her herbs ( the cooking kind ). She bought a jar of cheap coffee, she was actually told to use used coffee grounds. She makes a ring of coffee around the herb plot and the slugs and snails won't cross it. No chemicals involved and no hassle for the mutts.

 

Merl1n

[Auntynorm]

My Mrs had a problem with snails and slugs getting to her herbs ( the cooking kind ). She bought a jar of cheap coffee, she was actually told to use used coffee grounds. She makes a ring of coffee around the herb plot and the slugs and snails won't cross it. No chemicals involved and no hassle for the mutts.

 

Merl1n

 

G'day Merl. Good one, mate. Probably only thing instant coffee is good for. :guitar: