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Avatar for MustangSally
May 19, 2016 11:01 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Denver Area (Zone 5a)
First, a thank you to Goldfinch4 & Cwhitt for helping me out this morning.
Yesterday, I noticed a full on explosion of spot marks all over most of my sempervivums. Looking at them more closely, they are more than spots they are indentations. See pic.
Goldfinch4 suggested snails or slugs. I just pulled up a few rocks and found this tiny guy; see pic. Is he they likely culprit? If so, who is he & how do I get rid of him?

Again, thank you for your help.


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May 19, 2016 3:06 PM CST
Name: Bev
Salem OR (Zone 8a)
Container Gardener Foliage Fan Sempervivums Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Sally, Welcome! to the Semp forum!

Just wanted to share what damage I've seen on my semps when they were planted in a raised bed. Doesn't look like the same kind of damage but the possible culprits look alike. Somebody said they may be centipedes? And if they were indeed only interested in dead matter, that must have run out because they went boring into the still-living main stem tissue.

webesemps said: Not sure what caused the semp damage but I've heard that some bugs/larvae/worms eat just the dead matter and don't harm the semps but I've had many huge holes bored right into the main stems of many semps:

Thumb of 2016-03-26/webesemps/a929e7 Thumb of 2016-03-26/webesemps/bc90d8

Possible culprits? These were taken after I pulled the soil away from the root matter:

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These were taken after the culprits found themselves out of their element and unwound themselves to relocate:
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May 19, 2016 7:27 PM CST
Name: Tim Stoehr
Canby, Oregon (Zone 8b)
Butterflies Sempervivums Region: Pacific Northwest Vegetable Grower Cactus and Succulents Sedums
Bee Lover Region: Oregon Dragonflies Keeper of Poultry Cat Lover Composter
Sally, have you had a hail storm lately? That would cause widespread pock-marks to your semps. One thing to check is if there is damage on one leaf below another where hail could not reach it. That's one clue, check if pock-marks only occur where hail could fall. Having recently been a victim of hail I think it likely. From your picture it looks like damage out on the ends where exposed to hail. Also check if semps in one area of the garden are affected while another area is not cuz hail would affect all areas.
The millipedes pictured by Bev I seriously doubt are the issue. They may cause some damage but will remain down below underneath where it's moist and dark. If millipedes eat semps then my garden is history, cuz millipedes are extremely numerous in my soil.
Last edited by tcstoehr May 19, 2016 7:30 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for MustangSally
May 19, 2016 7:55 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Denver Area (Zone 5a)
@Tim; hmmmm hail storm. We had one a week - week & 1/2 ago. A good one, too.
Having said that, there are three 'colonies' nearby that are uneffected.

*I'm very impressed by how nice everyone on this site has been. I've only been a member for a day & I'm in awe at how much help everyone has given me. Thank you.
Last edited by SallyAnnette16 May 19, 2016 8:07 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for MustangSally
May 19, 2016 8:03 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Denver Area (Zone 5a)
Blinking @Bev Webesemps ~
GASP!!!! A scene from 'The Walking Dead' the Semp version. Did they recover?
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May 19, 2016 8:11 PM CST
Name: Tim Stoehr
Canby, Oregon (Zone 8b)
Butterflies Sempervivums Region: Pacific Northwest Vegetable Grower Cactus and Succulents Sedums
Bee Lover Region: Oregon Dragonflies Keeper of Poultry Cat Lover Composter
SallyAnnette16 said:@Tim; hmmmm hail storm. We had one a week - week & 1/2 ago. A good one, too.
Having said that, there are three 'colonies' nearby that are uneffected.


If by "colony" you mean a particular variety in a cluster, it could be that variety is simply tougher than the others and didn't show hail damage. When it happened to me there were a few cultivars that seemed untouched just because they had stouter foliage. If you find this damage all around your semp beds, with the exception of a variety here or there, I might still suspect hail. I will give up my theory if you can find marks on leaves directly below another leaf where hail couldn't fall down and hit it.
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May 19, 2016 9:12 PM CST
Name: Bev
Salem OR (Zone 8a)
Container Gardener Foliage Fan Sempervivums Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Garden Ideas: Master Level
Sally, all my plants are in new environment since pulling them out of the ground, shaking off all the dirt, and putting them into pots with new soil. Now it's the bigger critters that I have to watch out for. Have been using bird netting. Also above, I meant millipede and not centipedes. I've seen centipede go up my husband's pant leg and bite him...
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May 20, 2016 8:55 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
Millipedes, like the rolly polly, are scavengers and eat dead plant material.
Bev, your above photo is probably damage from those terrible grubs you had, remember them. Kate in England also had them. The millipedes will travel the path of destruction feeding on the damaged and dead plant material.

Wow. Sally that is some damage on those leaves. I'd test out Tim's theory by checking the lower protected leaves of the plants. It sure does look like hail damage though. You Denver hail storms can be quite devastating to those tender leaves.
So nice to meet you Sally and so glad you found your way to NGA. Welcome!
Don't be a stranger, come often. Oh, and we love photos. Green Grin!
Avatar for MustangSally
May 20, 2016 7:08 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Sally
Denver Area (Zone 5a)
@Tim tcstoehr
I took a good look today & some of the under leaves are beat up. But, they are fewer in number than the top leaves. But, I think you are right. The newer chicks that were really buired are uneffected. The three other patches are the same variety. I can't explain why the aren't damaged. Luck I guess.
Sigh. I'd better get used to it. We get a couple hail storms per year.

Thank you, so so much for your input!
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