Bunny ate leaves of my "Love Castle"

[Squidy]

Hi everyone! I am a newbie to this forum and would like some advice on a problem. Every Spring through Fall, I like to move my Cattleyas and Vandas outdoors close to our house with very good east sun exposure. About 2 months ago, I had to move my orchids under an arbor temporarily (on the ground) because we were painting our house. It didn't take long for a bunny to come and eat the leaves of a small recently purchased "Love Castle" Cattleya! I have attached 2 photos of this orchid. I brought it to our local orchids center and was told that it will not make it. I brought it indoors - to my orchid room. There is a small shoot coming out. Is there any hope for this little guy? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[Bluesky]

It looks like it is getting a basal keiki. So it is trying to survive. Orchids are pretty tough 'people'. Be aware that it will be years till it will be able to bloom, if it lives. Keep it clean - trim off all the dead leaves with a new razor blade. The keiki will eventually put out it's own root system and you could then remove it from the parent & pot it in it's own suitably sized pot. Do not try to remove till the roots on the keiki are well established.

[orchidsarefun]

and for the bunny problem.......get a cat or 2 that you allow outdoors in Spring/Summer. I have 3 and no rodent problems at all.

[dounoharm]

remove the skin, head and feet and innards, dredge in flour salt and pepper and panfry.....make a gravey from the drippings, great with mashed potatoes and buiscuits...
for the orchid, water once ever week or ten days give it plenty of light and it will recover but slowly....

[vjo]

If that is a Cattleya it looks like it is growing a new lead and it will be OK after awhile. A cat does not produce keikis. I think it will be fine but you have to take good care of it. I would cut off anything that is NOT green, even a little green should stay to feed new growth and hope for the best. Maybe someone else will have better instructions but that is what I would do....Jean

[Jayfar]

Mice have been nibbling at a few select plants here lately (indoors), including 2 vandas, a Phal Mini Mark, and a Phal Equalacea. War has been declared! They mostly just laughed at the traps I had out a while back, although I caught a few, so now I have the poison baits out and I think I'll be getting some glue traps as well to place on the table in my vanda corner. With the vandas, they must actually be climbing up the plant and out along the leaves, as that's the only way they could possibly reach the leaf tips they've been gnawing on. Grrrrrr!

[Squidy]

Oh gosh! I'm glad that I don't have to deal with mice gnawing on my Vandas!!!! That would really make me mad!!!!

Thanks to all the advice! I did cut off all the "dead" stalks with a clean blade. Decided to keep "her" indoors on humidity trays with good east morning sunlight. I will water/fertilize as usual. I am not sure when to transfer to a smaller pot. I guess I'll watch the new growth and repost in a couple of months. Thanks everyone!!!!! Glad to be here!

[Leisurely]

I think that chances of survival would be much better if you de-potted and set the plant in an empty clay pot with no media out of direct sunlight and mist every two or three days. Cut off all black, brown or dead looking roots and when the new growth puts out roots that are about an inch long, then re-pot it. This works great for growing back bulbs and should work for you. The problem with leaving it in it's current pot is the risk of keeping it too moist and killing any good roots that you possibly have on the plant.

[Squidy]

Hi Jerry. Thanks for your response. I did check the roots of this plant and they seemed fine - no dead soggy roots. I water this orchid once a week and fertilize once a month. Media gets pretty dry between watering. I'm worried that the new growth seems to be "drying" out!!!! Am a little more worried now. . .but will be vigilant!!!! I actually have a bet with our local orchid expert - he says it won't survive. I say it will.

[Leisurely]

I have had plants decline and die for no obvious reason. Your plant is apparently affected by the treatment it received before you got it and at this point all that you can do is give it the best care and think positive. Good luck!