Coleus: something gnawing on my coleus and sunflower, 1 by cathy166

cathy166 wrote:
I cannot answer about slug damage. Coleuslover, you are on the right track. The best way to get rid of the slugs is beer in an aluminum (disposable) pie plate where the angled sides work against them. You don't need more than 1/2 -3/4 of an inch of beer.

Konnor, our screwed up northeast winter/spring weather seems to have brought a plethora of hungry insects. I've done a pretty good job of spraying for the red lily beetle, They seem to be going after some of the other plants, so no I know I've got to be even more diligent about spraying.

I just posted on another thread one of the sprays I use, so I'll post the pix here also. Due to the essential oils, it does not wash off in the rain. And I buy it premixed even though the photos show the refill that needs to be mixed.

I always start off with coleus and heuchera plants in the full sun while it is cool outside. When the sun becomes so strong that it is burning the coleus, I move them to a more shaded spot. When I put them under a tree, I believe that the sap from the tree attracts insects that start to eat up the lovely foliage. I have learned that they must be moved to the side of the house where they get only morning sun, and they generally thrive there. Since we contain so many plants in pots or containers, it is a cinch to move them.

Marcia