things eating my seedling

[JiGGabOo]

hey i think birds have been eating my little seedlings so i think iam going to cut the top and bottom of a soda can and put it over the seedling. do u think that will be okay or is there another way to keep bugs/animals from eating my plant? also i will be putting it on top of a table so bugs wont get it.

[mountainman]

It's easier to start your seeds indoors, under CFL's and then move them outdoors once the weather is better and the plants have at least a few nodes.

As far as keeping pests away....

You'll never keep bugs away unless you use a pesticide of some sort, but that can kill your plant if you don't use caution.
Birds would be kept away by the soda can, they probably won't wanna reach over it. You could put a screen over it to be safe.

Good luck.

[JiGGabOo]

i dont have the option to grow indoors so do u think this will be alright?
iam going to put the pot on top of the table and with the seedling imma put the soda can over it. do u think the sun will get to the seedling well even with the soda can?

[just me]

My common sense me to use a fine net so light can get in and bugs are kept out. That's what go on and around various plants in my garden that need protecting.

[just me]

Just use an appropriate size net for what you want so if they are little bugs then use one where the holes arn't big enough for them to get through and if need be sit the plant pot with seedling in on top of the net and rap it around the plant pot and seedling so the bugs don't come up from the ground or where ever they come from. I'd support the net with canes so the net or what ever don't droop onto the seedling.

[JiGGabOo]

i dont have the option to use a net though =\ so the only thing i can think of is to use the soda can on top of the table. will the sun get to the seedling good with the soda can method?

[just me]

have a look and see

[del...]

cutworms can be a real problem with seedlings in my area, not far from you. birds like seedlings too but they pull them out while insects leave a little stub. so look for those signs and if you see an inch to inch and a half long skinny dark brown bugs with a split tail (looks like the can sting but they can't), most likely there's your culprit. the cans will take care of crawling critters tho.

[JiGGabOo]

well iam not exactly sure whats been eating my seedlings. but this is what it looked like....it just had the long stem and everyhting else was gone.

[just me]

Good soda can idea. I tryed to answer what I though was best but I didn't take into consideration where you're living having any different types of bugs than where I am.

[Trivium]

Hey Jiggaboo.

Very racist name imo.

But anyways, you can simply use a screen from a window that you open in your home, thats sophisticated enough that the birds cant get through and the bugs will stay away.

Now if you still dont have it, why not use a CLEAR pop bottle, such as a 2liter, it will build the humidity, attract sunlight, and keep the pesky birds and bugs away.

Cheers.

[JiGGabOo]

so should i just get a 2 liter and cut the top off and bottom off and put it over my plant? are u sure it wont kill the plant? just to make sure :P

[JiGGabOo]

someone reply fast pwease imma start my grow REALLY REALLY soon

[IronLung]

I highly doubt that your problem is caused by a bird. This year my friend's perfect little seedling got nibbled on by some sort of bug. The day it popped out of the soil both of the cotyledon were lush and green. Next day, there was a good portion missing from the leaves. She is a trouper though; after four days it's still standing with the same two (partial) leaves. A deer stepped 2 inches away from the seedling too.
Anyways, if the seedling has less than 3 pairs of leaves, u should be fine. Infestations on such small plants usually aren't perminent. If it's spider mites u should be worried though.

[del...]

i use aluminum beverage cans and cut off both ends using a serated steak knife then center over the seedling and press into the ground. you can remove it later or leave it on through harvest...it won't hurt the plants.

[JiGGabOo]

how does the sun get in if the aluminam soda can is over the plant? doesnt the sun only get in through the top? isnt that too little sunlight? also would it be better if i just find a clear 2 liter bottle or someting alittle smaller and just put it over the plant just like the soda can method except for using a 2 liter