I had a bunch of zinnia seedlings. A million in a raised bed. A gazillion in various containers in my front and side yards. I was so happy when the little things poked out of the ground. And then literally overnight, all the leaves disappeared. The stems are still poking out of the ground seemingly intact, but they are naked and looking pathetic.
I’m mad and I’m confused. What kind of hungry-hungry-hippo critter would commit this kind of atrocity? I almost wish they had eaten the whole shoot instead of just surgically picking off the leaves.
I suspect its an insect of some type, because I had fencing around my raised bed and the plants were still massacred. I’m not averse to putting down a toxic substance, but I do have a bag of diatomaceous earth. Anyone had any luck stopping insects with this stuff? I used it once when I had a real bad flea infestation a few years back, and all I learned from the experience was that diatomaceous earth is messy and doesn’t do a damn thing to kill fleas.
I’m going to start all over again with the remaining seeds I have. Any advice?
hangs head Sorry…I got hungry. tucks tail and goes to hide behind couch
Stranger
All you had to do was ask and I would have given you some, you little hungry-hungry Stranger on a Train. Now I must sprinkle some diatomaceous earth on you and watch you shrivel up.
I have had slugs/snails do that, though not with zinnias (I’ve never grown them). I don’t suppose it was a wet, warm night was it? Do you even get them wee slimy bastards in your area?
I do. And it has been wet. What kills slugs?
Not enough… Slug killing nematodes can work, but they’re not fast. Beer traps (at least they die happy) can also work, but nothing really gets rid of them, just reduces numbers. Slug pellets can work too, if they’re available, but it can be a bit tricky to make sure birdies and things don’t get them- birds and stuff also eat the slugs.
Going out at night with a light, picking them off stuff then jumping up and down on them screaming obscenities is also a valid option.
Salt. Not good for plant soil, though.
Slugs don’t like to cross copper and you can buy Cu tape to make a barrier.
This is usually how it ends for me.
I’ve never tried diatomaceous earth on slugs, I usually go for the beer option and then end up screaming obscenities.
Finely crushed egg shells around the perimeter of your beds deters slugs and snails. Might need to top up regularly though, especially if it’s been raining heavily.
Goldfinches are also notorious zinnia-eaters. Though they are primarily seed-eaters when it comes to zinnias apparently they are happy to chow down on both leaves and buds. However if this happened overnight that definitely rules them out.
When a “million gazillion” seedlings are all eaten in this way overnight, I strongly suspect an animal invader, such as deer, groundhogs or less likely birds. You should see some sign of insects or slugs in action - if not the beasts themselves :dubious:, then holes in leaves in addition to entirely devoured plants.
Once in deepest darkest Texas I had a bunch of seedlings devastated virtually overnight by sow bugs a.k.a. pill bugs. They can be ravenous destroyers of young plants in the deep South, but typically just feed on decaying plant matter in northern climates.