Somebody ate my new growth!!

[lotis146]

So I had a little creepy crawly on my Zns. Cynosure 'Blue Birds' and I put it outside with the intent to spray it, and then never did, but left it outside. Just the other day I noticed a bite out of the pbulb! Stupidly I thought given how much it WASN'T mangled that they weren't going to come back for it, after all none of my others had been chewed on, including the Bratonia next to it. I assume it was the chipmunks that like to hang under the porch. THEN I went back out yesterday and found it to have been chewed on further AND worst of all they ate most of the new growth!

So my question is, assuming they murdered my new growth (this is a young plant) and it doesn't make a come back (could it???) will the plant grow another? I'm so sad for this development and feel so stupid for leaving it there after the first "attack". I put cinnamon on the "wounds" and brought it inside.

Anyone else dealt with this before? What happened?

[My Green Pets]

Yep, it is definitely plant-munching time out there. I haven't had much damage all summer and in just the past couple of weeks I've had all kinds of root tips and new growths eaten.

The plant will recover and grow new ones, so no worries there...just means more waiting for you

Hope you find the rascals who did it. If they were slugs or snails be careful as they could be down hiding inside the pot!

[Leafmite]

I think most people have experienced their plants being eaten at one time or another if they put them outside for the summer. Gardeners frequently have this problem with their veggies. Deer, ground hogs, mice, rats, chipmunks, rabbits, and many other animals can all be culprits. My plants are elevated, hung or surrounded/mixed with bitter-tasting herbs. If you don't have too many outside, growing them in an old rabbit/guinea pig cage might be a solution, too. Once animals find something tasty and easy to consume, they will be back.
If you protect the orchid and the orchid is healthy, it should begin a replacement growth.

[lotis146]

Thanks guys, I feel a little bit better. I have every reason to believe it was chipmunks. Some of mine are elevated, thinking I need to put more up, this one I brought back inside but am worrying for my Bratonia. I'll be keeping an eye on all my plants that are outside.

Thanks again and best of luck with yours! It's not a very big plant, bought as Blooming size plant, one pbulb and then it started a new growth. We'll see what happens.

[Leafmite]

I had a vanilla and Piper eaten to the roots either last year or the year before. The vanilla recovered, the Piper did not and needed replaced. I cannot imagine that either tasted very good. It happens. Your orchid should recover just fine. They usually have multiple eyes and when something happens to one, another develops. Even small orchids usually do alright. I buy most of my orchids as tiny seedlings and, amazingly, they survive.

[LovePhals]

Ohhh no!! I think it will bounce back as long as it's a strong plant. The worst I have had is also eating root tips on my orchids and my Christmas Cactus has gotten it pretty bad and total new growths have been eaten off.

[lotis146]

Those are both sad stories! I feel pretty grateful thus far in terms of destruction to my plants. This little new growth had been growing well and then those little rotten... but again, thanks for the encouraging news. I'll keep you posted on how things go with it.

[brianwstephens]

I'm sooo sorry thats detrimental! That has happened to me before but more so with my carnivorous plants, the squirrels ripped them up and ate the roots oddly enough. I was very angry but thankfully they developed new roots and continued to thrive. I think that as long as you provide proper care then another growth will form. Good luck and hopefully this will not continue to occur! Maybe look up some natural ways to repel them?

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by brianwstephens

I'm sooo sorry thats detrimental! That has happened to me before but more so with my carnivorous plants, the squirrels ripped them up and ate the roots oddly enough. I was very angry but thankfully they developed new roots and continued to thrive. I think that as long as you provide proper care then another growth will form. Good luck and hopefully this will not continue to occur! Maybe look up some natural ways to repel them?

Oddly enough they never messed with any of my other plants, even the bigger ones near that little guy. I think it was really a crime of opportunity.

So far I haven't seen any improvement or evidence of new growth in the plant. But I won't give up! Now everyone is back inside so I don't have chipmunks to worry about until next year.

[lotis146]

Woo hoo!! Watered all my plants - gosh that takes forever - the other day. That's when I discovered that this little plant who has done nothing since the 'attack' last fall is finally growing a new growth! I'm so happy.