Curl Grub

[reddoggy]

As this is my first time to post on Ausbonsai, this might be a dumb question about getting rid of curl grubs in my pots, I have a couple of rather large bonsai pots and would find it difficult to submerge the pots to drown the little buggers as suggested in some of the threads and I didn`t want if possible to use all the fancy mixes as suggested in others.
Is there anything I can water on to the mix or spray the trees with as a systemic control to kill the little pests.
Would appreciate any suggestions please and I hope the question is not too silly or has been asked before as at least I tried to find an answer in the other forums as I know some members get quite upset at people asking the same or dumb questions.
I

[alpineart]

Hi Reddoggy , welcome to Ausbonsai . Most sprays are not recommended for the use in pots . .I suggest you get a large piece of thick black plastic and fold it up around the pot , sucure the top together to form a bag/bladder .Then fill the poly bag/bladder until the water exceeds the top of the pot . Leave for a few hours and it should drown them . Hope this helps .

Cheers Alpineart

[bodhidharma]

.I suggest you get a large piece of thick black plastic and fold it

Bloody hell Alpine, what a good idea. The hours i have wasted looking for something big enough

[toohey]

What a fantastic suggestion

[reddoggy]

Thanks Alpine, sounds like some of the Guru`s were impressed too, maybe it was not a dumb question after all

[kcpoole]

Thanks Alpine, sounds like some of the Guru`s were impressed too, maybe it was not a dumb question after all

the only dumb question, is the one never asked.

Nice solution Alpine, thinking right outside the box.
You will need to soak for about 4 hrs as i have done the submerge thing for up to 1 hr previously and still had them live

Ken

[cre8ivbonsai]

not being familiar with these creatures, a search revealed that they are similar to a wichitty grub, and there are many methods of disposal ... yum yum

[alpineart]

Hi Guys if you have to move it around , use a brickies wheel barrow as a mobile water trough . There's more than one way to skin a cat .

Cheers Alpineart

[witchstreet]

Hi Reddoggy
Yesterday I found 7 curl grubs in my bonsai. Luckily the pots were small enough to submerge into a tub with Charlie Carp where they rose to the surface. They seem to be everywhere at the moment. Alpine gave you a great suggestion about the plastic. He really was thinking outside the square. Well done, Alpine.

[reddoggy]

Thanks witchy for the info,you have nearly got enough to have a BBQ and invite all your friends around.
Apparently it is the larvae of the African Black beetle, so it helps to keep the pots off the ground and to not have too many lights on at night to attract the little devils. I wish they made some poison to kill the little critters that you could put on your trees every now and then to prevent them eating all the roots before you realise you have them.

[philf555]

I use a store bought grub killer which specifically tagets these beasties on my lawn. Not sure if you can use it on Bonsai though, never been keen to try it.

[reddoggy]

Thanks Philf555 for the info, I might try some out on a sacrifice tree to see whether it does any harm but the general consensus seems to drown the little buggers but some of my trees are huge and get very heavy when wet, might have to get rid of them and concentrate on Shohin.

[witchstreet]

Reddoggy
You really are learning. Wasn't it you, the other day, who asked what is a Shohin? Now you're turning all your bonsai into little ones. Perhaps the curl grubs could help you. Love the attachment from cre8ivbonsai. All my friends had a fantastic time at the barbie. They enjoyed the grub.