Gone for 3 weeks, update

[jesscorine]

I left all my orchids in NJ and drove to Ohio, and then flew to Arizona. I just came home. The rabbits or squirrels had a feast on my leaves, although nothing seems beyond help. I'm really sad that all the spikes are chewed off of my Anacheilium Cochleatum though They nibbled on the pbulbs too. My cattleya had fallen over, but it was in loose bark so it isn't worse for wear either. Some random phal leaves are eaten too. I don't think it's slugs b/c they aren't spotty chewed spots, they are straight across with teeth marks. *sigh* We're moving tomorrow and I will be nursing everything back to health. My husband watered everything on the weekend when he was home. I do have a 4" spike coming on my phal that I've owned the longest, and a large new leaf and bloom on a big rescue phal (brom/angel/phal planter). My other rescue phals don't look worse than when I left either!

[lornaheath]

Oh that is just about the saddest thing I have read for a long time. I bet you were devastated when you came back to see that destruction. I would have been so upset.

I wish you lots of Love and Luck nursing them all back to good health. It's a great shame. aaawwwwww


Lorna
x x x

[bellini girl]

Bummer! Hope they recover quickly. What were the squirrels hoping to find among the orchid ? nuts perhaps? pesky little buggers

[Bud]

I have birds and squirrels nibbling my orchids on the fire escape....Manhattan rats might also dig in....I am buying some ox blood from my neighborhood butcher ...I heard the squirrels and rats don't like the smell(I will put it on an empty pot with soil and hope the humans wont complain about the decaying stench)....I got a big plastic owl hanging on one of the iron bannister to scare the birds

[cbuchman]

I've found that hot pepper (you can buy as an additive for bird seed) works pretty well. Unfortunately, it isn't rain proof. We've been able to discourage rabbits, chipmunks, etc. with this simple remedy. Be sure you don't get any on your hands or face!