Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of leaves for slugs during the evening.
- Look for shiny slime trails on the soil surface.
- Check if the soil is staying too wet for too long.
Likely causes
Slug infestation
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see irregular holes chewed in the leaves and shiny mucus trails on the soil or foliage.
What to do: Handpick the slugs at night when they are active. You can also place a shallow dish of beer near the plant to trap them or use copper tape around the base of the pot.
Excessive moisture
PossibleHow to tell: The soil stays constantly wet, which creates a perfect environment for slugs to thrive.
What to do: Allow the top inch of soil to dry out slightly before watering again. Ensure your pot has good drainage holes so water does not sit at the bottom.
Find out what's wrong with your pignut
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the slugs are eating the entire plant down to the ground, you need to act immediately. Small holes are annoying but usually not fatal for a healthy plant.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the area around your pignut clear of debris and dead leaves where slugs like to hide during the day.
Pignut: pests? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pignut and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Will slugs kill my pignut?
- They can weaken it significantly if they eat all the new growth. Most established plants recover if you remove the pests.
- Can I use salt to kill the slugs?
- No, do not use salt near your plant. It will damage the soil and can kill your pignut.
Guides to these causes
More problems with pignut
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.