What is eating my aeonium schwarzkopf?

June 12, 2010 5:24 AM

What is eating my aeonium schwarzkopf? The plant looks fine, leaves are nice and healthy looking but something has eaten a large hole right through the stem just below the leaves.

Pictures here. 1, 2, 3, 4.

posted by srboisvert to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

Best answer: It looks like slug damage to me. Also, has it been knocked off whatever it is that it's placed on recently?
posted by Solomon at 6:22 AM on June 12, 2010

I agree - slugs or snails.
posted by eleslie at 6:36 AM on June 12, 2010

Response by poster: It hasn't been knocked off anything recently. (That did happen to my other aeonium schwarzkopf - which had the top snap right off it - seen here and here. It is doing fine - both halves - so far).

I hadn't even thought of slugs since they don't seem to bother with my succulents but they have been a bit rampant in my garden these last two weeks since the summer started turning wetter.

I just caved in and bought some vine weevil insecticide because they killed two of my aeoniums and two echeveria last winter so I have treated them for that and I'll put down some slug pellets to take care of the slimy things.

The roots seem fine as the plants are still standing firm in their pots.

Here is hoping it is just slug damage
posted by srboisvert at 8:23 AM on June 12, 2010

Best answer: You can get rid of vine weevil by washing all of the compost from the roots and then repotting it with fresh. Whatever treatment you use, though, make sure to treat everything. The females are practically indestructible.
posted by Solomon at 4:50 AM on June 13, 2010