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Vermicomposting

exactly how do you deal with slugs?

17 years ago

I've had bins in the basement over a year, and my first slugs showed up today. I did a search for slugs in this forum and found a concensus to kill them, not surprisingly. Deetails: I need deetails.

I have killed slugs around plants with pie pans of beer and I understand a ring of salt works for plants as long as it doesn't get into the pot's soil. But worms -- I know I don't want salt around my worms. I don't love the idea of an open beer trap in the basement, but is this what I should do?

Someone mentioned (used) coffee grounds in connection with slugs; this sounds good but I don't know what to do with it. I have been feeding my worms coffee ground along with other kitchen garbage all along. (Is that why I haven't had slugs before now, perchance?)

The two slugs I found were teenagers, which suggests they have been getting it on already, doesn't it? They were not in the bin, but they could slither in through my holes, no problem. What to do, support group? Thanks a million.

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Comments (5)

sqh1
17 years ago
::I hate "Your Opinion Counts"::
What are you using for bedding? I started to notice slugs when I added leaves for bedding in my indoor bins. I stopped doing this.
I now pick the slugs out and give to my friend, who has chickens.
recluse
17 years ago
I pick them out too.

My bins are outside and I noticed a huge increase in slugs when we had those really warm spring days. I was pulling them out of the bins and stepping on them left and right until my conscious started to bother me.

Now I don't want to sound like a tree-hugging fanatic, but I figure most things in nature have a positive purpose EVEN when I might find it difficult to figure out what that POSITIVE purpose might be - so I stopped squashing the slugs and began tossing them into a small wooded area that borders my property. (Wish I knew someone with chickens :-)

If I could find a way to keep the slugs on the poison ivy that doesn't want to die no matter how many times it's dug up and cut down, I'd be happy.

If you didn't find the slugs in your worm bedding, I'm wondering how they got inside your house??? I don't think slugs would want to come inside and would find it difficult to do so even if they had joined together and made a plan to invade. I'm thinking you must have brought them inside on some plant material. Perhaps the two you found were an isolated incident?

FYI: I've found that if I store my leaves up off the ground there are fewer slugs to deal with. Once I picked out all the baby and adult slugs in early spring, I haven't had any to deal with since.

(I am curious about the coffee grounds as a slug repellant. Hopefully someone will explain this.)
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squeeze
17 years ago
I'd bet that you brought the slugs or their eggs in with some material, unless you have a really damp basement - no need to try putting up a defense, there won't be an invasion, just pick off any you see

Bill
woodsworm
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks. I wintered plants in the basement until recently. Likely eggs came in then. My bedding is all shredded paper, cereal boxes, etc.
greenthumbgardener
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Slugs are really attracted to discarded grapefruit rind halves. Take a few and place them in your bins cup side down, and check them every morning.

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