Squirrel Nuissance problem! - Orchid Board

orchidjunky · #1 12-11-2009, 01:31 PM

Some of my plants have been dug up by stupid squirrels that are around my complex. They mostly dig into my potted soil plants, however they have now decided to dig in the orchids bark too!!! I was wondering what is a good deterrant for this behaviour? I've read that squirrel repellants are not that effective and that cayenne pepper/hot sauce works but needs to be constantly reapplied... I'm thinking about putting rocks on the tops of the soil/bark to prevent the behavior but I don't know if this will be bad for the plants or will the squirrels just pull the rocks off...

I have an aloe vera, rosemary plant, crown of thorns and some cattleyas that seem to be the main targets... would putting rocks on top of these hurt the plants?

kinknstein · #2 12-11-2009, 01:37 PM

I have heard of people using tin foil across the tops of plant pots to keep cats out of it. I know it worked well for my friends cats but I dunno how well it would work for squirrels.

grasshopper · #3 12-11-2009, 01:53 PM

I used to cut a piece of chicken wire to fit just inside the top of my flower pots to keep the squirrels out. I potted the plants to about 1" to the top of the pot and then placed the chicen wire around the plant inside the pot. Then I lightly covered the chicken wire with dirt. For the most part, this worked to keep the squirrels out.

orchidjunky · #4 12-11-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grasshopper

I used to cut a piece of chicken wire to fit just inside the top of my flower pots to keep the squirrels out. I potted the plants to about 1" to the top of the pot and then placed the chicen wire around the plant inside the pot. Then I lightly covered the chicken wire with dirt. For the most part, this worked to keep the squirrels out.

Interesting... i'm a little cautious of this because does the wire interfere with the growth of the plant. I have mostly circular clay pots... did you cut the wire into "donuts" with the hole in the center being where the plant goes through? Just curious how you got the wire in there? Cause i'm imagining donut shaped wire with maybe a slit from the edge of the wire to the inner circle so tha you can manuever it around the plant... is that how you did it?

grasshopper · #5 12-11-2009, 02:59 PM

That's exactly how I did it.

I've never tried this with orchids, but I would think it would work...just watch the growth of the orchid to make sure the "donut hole" is large enough so as not to interfere with the plant and new growth.

orchidjunky · #6 12-11-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grasshopper

That's exactly how I did it.

I've never tried this with orchids, but I would think it would work...just watch the growth of the orchid to make sure the "donut hole" is large enough so as not to interfere with the plant and new growth.

Well for my orchids I think im gonna build like a "fencE" to fence off the squirrels...

As for the soil potted plants.. i'll try your method...

Just curious what did the squirrels do to your potted plants? For mine they keep making a mess.. as I find soil all over the floor around the pots and one time the suckers were uprooting some of my cactus that didn't have so many spines.

stefpix · #7 12-12-2009, 09:27 AM

you could cut and put some mosquito screen or something around the pot.

or I wonder if you could just fed the squirrrels with peanuts put a container with peanuts a few every day and a pot wit soil no plants - bury some peanuts inside in a different spot .

well squirrels dig my pots as well.

I wonder if cat litter with cat urine sprinkled here and there near teh pots would be a deterrent

orchidjunky · #8 12-12-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefpix

I wonder if cat litter with cat urine sprinkled here and there near teh pots would be a deterrent

I thought about this... cause they sell coyote and bobcat urine as a rodent repellant... but i live in an apartment complex that has a lot of dogs.... dogs urinate everywhere as well as leave their feces in the grass around my complex... in fact in front of my apartment patio (where my plants are) there is dog poop (even though our place provides waste bag dispensers for those lazy bums who don't pick it up) and my own dog has been around the plants. So I don't think the squirrels would care if cat litter or what not is around.

I'm trying bamboo skewers first and then if the squirrels still find a way to dig... i'll go with the chicken wire or screen on top of the soil.

Ross · #9 12-12-2009, 02:42 PM

I'm a firm believer in the power of my .22 cal air pistol! I've buried 15 this last season. Never again will these 15 dig around my plants

or anyone else's either.

nancy · #10 12-12-2009, 05:05 PM

As about a 5th resort, I am totally behind Ross and his .22 - I've tried numerous things to 'repel' them, and none works for long.
CD/DVDs - drill a small hole, suspend with monofilament. Flashing is scary. Works for a year or so. Bonus: your neighbors think you are completely insane.
1lb. cayenne mixed with 1 lb. heavy grease - smear it all over the uprights of whatever you hang your orchids from, and the tops. 'Tree rats' lick it off of their feet before attacking orchids. Waste of time and money.
Inflatable owl, snake, etc. - spend that $10 on an orchid. Squirrels don't even notice these.
Dig, dumb dawg - works only when the dawg is outside and awake and feels like chasing a squirrel. Our squirrels pelt the dawgs with acorns and pecans and chatter at them. Bonus: when a squirrel is brought down, the dawgs hork up parts for 2-3 days.
There are a few nice squirrel recipes in the "connoisseur's corner" section of these forums.
Bon appetit - Nancy