chilli Posted December 31, 2011 (edited) To my dismay I found a TINY green caterpillar on my newly acquired grafted button cacti.. as small as it was, it had managed to do a bit of damage, chewing some holes in a few of the pups. Any recommendations of ways I can prevent this happening again, and if I should do anything to prevent rot or similar on the cacti? Thanks. Edited January 1, 2012 by chilli Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evil Genius Posted December 31, 2011 The wound is not the problem. Quarantine from the other cacti. Watch the cactus for one or two months and if there arent more of the caterpillars, its alright. Dont think its a serious pest but i already had some plants that were suddenly covered with large amounts of caterpillars. If you have something like this happening in your greenhouse, your in serious trouble. So dont put it to the others to make sure. bye Eg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C_T Posted December 31, 2011 rip, my thoughts are with you and the casualties. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chilli Posted December 31, 2011 (edited) The holes are very small, but I am still worried about it as it's my first button cactus.. they are so soft! No wonder this little tiny caterpillar like them! Edited January 1, 2012 by chilli Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evil Genius Posted December 31, 2011 Yeah holes will probably heal if you keep the loph in a warm place. As long as the bug didnt put some eggs in there, all is fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chilli Posted December 31, 2011 Fingers crossed.. I think it is a lucky caterpillar (well unlucky after I squashed it) that made his way from somewhere else, so I'm hoping no eggs.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zelly Posted December 31, 2011 dust your affected plants and their surrounding topsoil with diatomaceous earth Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C_T Posted December 31, 2011 smells like sulfar dust time, no water until its stable, quarantine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chilli Posted January 1, 2012 Any ideas of where I would find diatomaceous earth? I am in WA.. I bought "sulphur" from Bunnings but when i got it home found it is granular and impossible to dust on.. where would I go to get sulphur dust (or I suppose I could just crush this up?) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woof woof woof Posted January 1, 2012 crush it up and snort,... uhhh I mean dust ur cactus! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Foo Posted January 9, 2012 Any ideas of where I would find diatomaceous earth? I am in WA.. I bought "sulphur" from Bunnings but when i got it home found it is granular and impossible to dust on.. where would I go to get sulphur dust (or I suppose I could just crush this up?) Tomato dust works Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stillman Posted January 9, 2012 as eatfoo says any of the tomato dust products should nail it. just don't read what it does as it is a horrible death lol. When I grew commercial amounts of chilli this stuff was a god send during certain months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tedzr Posted January 10, 2012 Hey there, as for the bunning sulphur, get a nylon stocking and put a wad of the dust in there then just dab it onto the wound, dusts up fine if u can get contact with the wound. Cheers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
