Wild Critters and Orchids

[Rothie]

I was planning on hanging several orchids in the trees in my backyard(which is full of squirrels,deer,fox,etc)-am I just asking for trouble?

[Chubidubi]

I don't have any of these animals here but I think that they might just develop an orchid sweet tooth

[EdinAZ]

Originally Posted by Rothie

I was planning on hanging several orchids in the trees in my backyard(which is full of squirrels,deer,fox,etc)-am I just asking for trouble?

My experience with other plants is that the outdoor varmints (deer, squirrels, woodchucks in northwest Indiana; quail, javelina, deer, packrats in southern Arizona) like some things and don't like others. If you can afford to risk a few plants of different varities, you can find out what is not to thier liking. Also depends on the abundance of other food.

Currently, we can bring some plants inside from our greenhouse, and some not . . . because of our cats. they will chew up some varieties and leave others alone.

I know this isn't the answer you would like, but in my experience animals do have tastes for some things and not for others, and you can probably only tell by experimenting.

Good Luck.

Ed

[Rothie]

If I have them hanging in the trees,I think they will be safe from everything but the squirrels.Those little guys terrorize everything.They will probably tear them apart just because they can.

[(..._...)]

my squirrels chew up my pumpkins in the fall, as well as flowering bulbs!!! They don't even eat it!!! just bit a chuck, and then throw it out!!!

I wouldnt think things such as deer would like it... but the thought of those darn squirells scares me!! if they are in the trees though, hanging, they prob. won't bother them.

good luck!

[Dorothy]

There are always squirrel guards
Bird Feeder, Topflight Squirrel Guard at Terradisiac
Squirrel Guards | Squirrel Guards - Free Shipping Offer! | Bird Watching Supplies
I use them on my bird feeders and the squirrels gave up after a few tries ..

[Lagoon]

I think in time trouble will find its way to your yard
I lost so many orchids to the small wild animals. I don't know why the keep picking on the orchids when we have so many veggies around, beats me

Orchids do love it outside, I get wonderful lush growth!

If I were you, I would test to see how it goes. Like mentioned above don't put your best out, you know?

As for me, I think i'll just stick to putting out a few on the deck and see what happeneds. Having 2 new dogs helps too

G'Luck Rothie

[Rothie]

I have lots of plants and my 2 orchids(soon to be 4) on the back deck and nothing bothers them.Although an occasional racoon will come up on the deck during the night,the squirrels stay about 10 feet away.I put up a bird feeder and bath a couple of weeks ago near one of my Magnolia trees,and the sqirrels went crazy with it.It seems like they have lost interest in the last 4 or 5 days,and now the birds are starting to use it.I think I'll keep the orchids on the deck.It would just be too enticing for those little buggers in the trees.

[CableGirl]

I haven't had any trouble with birds or squirrels for the orchids in my trees... my ground orchids (and bromeliads), on the other hand, have been ravaged by raccoons in the past few weeks.

Actually my indoor plants are in much greater danger of attack.... from my cats.

[Jkelee]

Hi Rothie, Do you 'still' have orchids in your trees, if the squirrels get them?
I was just about to make a shade house-open for ALL my hanging orchids. But now I'm scared to if these little pest will break them to pieces?

Do you NOT recommend having orchids available for an all you can eat buffet?

Or do you think it is safe for me to put up my shade house?

Originally Posted by Rothie

If I have them hanging in the trees,I think they will be safe from everything but the squirrels.Those little guys terrorize everything.They will probably tear them apart just because they can.