Whirling butterfly plant, also known as Gaura lindheimeri, is a beautiful and delicate perennial flower that produces stunning white and pink blooms. Unfortunately, these plants are a favorite snack for slugs, which can quickly devour the leaves and stems. If you’re struggling with a slug infestation on your whirling butterfly plants, don’t worry – there are several effective ways to get rid of these pests.
Before you can effectively tackle a slug problem, it’s important to confirm that slugs are truly the problem. Look for telltale signs such as holes in the leaves or slimy trails on the plant. You may also spot slugs themselves if you check your plants at night or early in the morning when they’re most active.
Slugs love hiding in dark, damp places during the day, so removing debris around your plants can help make them less appealing to slugs. Clear away any dead leaves or plant debris from around your whirling butterfly plants to make it harder for slugs to hide.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to get rid of slugs on your whirling butterfly plants is by handpicking them off. This method is especially effective if you only have a few plants to treat. Go out at night with a flashlight and pick off any slugs you see by hand. Dispose of them in a bucket of soapy water or crush them underfoot.
Slug-bait is an effective way to get rid of slugs without having to manually remove them. Look for a slug-bait product that contains iron phosphate as its active ingredient, as this is safe for use around pets and wildlife. Scatter the bait around your whirling butterfly plants according to the package instructions.
Copper tape is a natural slug repellent that works by giving the slugs a small electric shock when they come into contact with it. This can help keep slugs from climbing up onto your whirling butterfly plants. Apply copper tape around the base of your plant pots or in a ring around your plants.
Slugs are most active at night and early in the morning when the weather is cool and damp.
While salt is a common way to get rid of slugs, it’s not recommended as it can harm plants and other wildlife in your garden.
Diatomaceous earth can be effective at killing slugs, but it must be applied directly to the slug to be effective. It’s not an ideal solution for treating large areas.
Beer can be an effective way to lure slugs away from your whirling butterfly plants, but it’s not a long-term solution. You’ll need to replace the beer regularly and dispose of the drowned slugs.