Guess the guy you spoke to about this last week was just being polite, huh? Such a shame. I am the same way though, hate to see a plant that someone has gone to lengths to grow for a year or two just destroyed. The waste of time, energy and resources is almost as bad as killing a nice plant.
Melissa, just a suggestion, we got some copper strips and put them flat across the doorways of our pool cage. Since then I've had hardly a nibble by a snail or slug on my orchids, where I was having a constant battle before we put it down. Copper is available in a tape as well from Gardener's Supply.
