Outdoor orchid's have nightmares of deer.

[angeleyedcat]

Originally Posted by Swamper

Wow, Cat I got tired just from reading everything you have to do to ward them off. The image of your cat and husband was pretty funny though.

It was great! He found it a challenge to remember it was out there when he was mowing The cat actually learned to avoid it faster than him.

[greenbean]

Weebl, I feel your pain. Cat, you too! Although I think your eastern white tails are worse than our western black tails.

I live near a state park, a lake, Weyerhauser tree farms, and several large streams. I also have lots of neighbors that think it's ok to let their dogs run free and not be trained AT ALL and love to shoot their guns randomly for no apparent reason. All these conditions combine to funnel the deer through my quiet, peaceful property. I'm just glad that the resident elk herd has never crossed the field to my side of the road!!!

First off, if you do get a dog, PLEASE be a responsible pet owner. That means training, not letting it run loose, proper feeding, care, EVERYTHING!!! I've seen so many bad dog owners (it is almost NEVER the dog's fault) not to comment on that, even if you weren't even considering a dog.

As for the deer, I have recently started using a bloodmeal-based repellent, like those already mentioned, that works very well. Once it dries, it doesn't need to be reapplied after a rain. However, you still have to reapply it as new growth/flowers come out, as my deer have eaten the new growth from plants that are otherwise covered in the stuff. Also, unless it is very well filtered, and sometimes even then, it leaves unpleasant brownish black water marks and discoloration on the leaves. It also seems to burn certain plants, especially succulents.

Besides keeping up with the new growth and potentially damaging foliage, methods like this usually work best only if you keep a rotation of various methods, i.e. using a rotten egg repellent for a month or two, then switching to blood meal for a while, then something else.

The only real way to protect your plants is to have a fully impenetrable fence surrounding the entire area you wish to protect. Even netting must be extremely well secured, as deer will nose their way through seams, under it, and even push/pull it down if it isn't tied up properly. Deer fences are usually recommended to be at least 8 feet high. I would suggest at least 10 feet. If you angle the fence outward, an 8 foot fence would be fine. Deer can jump either high or far, but it's harder for them to combine both, and they have poor depth perception due to their wideset eyes.

I think someone already suggested this, and i strongly support it given your situation. Move your plants higher up on the tree. You can also put some benches or other features around the tree to help force the deer to keep their distance. If the bench is narrow or just a bit wobbly, they won't be able to use it as a stepping stool. This would also provide some seating for you to look up and enjoy your orchids.

Oh and Stef, DON'T FEED THE SQUIRRELLS!!!!!!!!!!
It won't work. You'll simply attract more squirrells, not confine the ones you have to a certain feeding area. Unless you have something like 10 acres and put the peanuts at one end and your orchids on the other, they'll just eat both!!!!! (and they probably would even with 15 acres!)

[stefpix]

well I live in an apt in Brooklyn so it is not really an infinite number of squirrels.
I noticed once i put a coconut husk to dry outside [had some pulp in it] a squirrel just went straight for that and did not try to eat any tomatoes nor dig pots.

I tried red pepper but did not really try too hard

[Baz in Oz]

Weebl, unless conditions prevent you using it, I would follow Quiltingwacko's suggestion of using blood meal or as it is marketed here, "blood and bone". I was having problems with hares chewing off newly planted trees and was offered a heap of 'cures' which may all have worked but I picked the simplest one and it worked like a dream.
Blood and bone fertilizer used to smell like bad drains but the deodorised product marketed today is OK but the deodorising process hasn't deterred dogs who apparently, are awake to the tricks of mankind.
The bottom line is that blood and bone is a great organic slow release fertilizer.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Deer can jump over high walls and fences.

I used to live in an area where there was deer. A young fawn cleared a 6 ft tall brick wall.

Due to zoning and restrictions, walls cannot be taller than 6 ft (here in Southern California).

There is one other option other than that repellant you guys are talking about...

Grow lots and lots of Foxgloves (Digitalis). Digitalis is used for heart medication. Deer hate this stuff, they won't touch Foxgloves. Great thing about this is that it beautifies your garden, they're commonly grown, and they're cheap. Seeds are also available, and so are plants.

Foxgloves:

http://z.about.com/d/gardening/1/0/B...dyMountain.jpg

http://www.robsplants.com/images/por...lora060531.jpg

http://www.floralimages.co.uk/images...nensis_437.jpg

http://www.robsplants.com/images/por...a040618flw.jpg

http://www.homeopathyandmore.com/med...is_Purpura.jpg

http://www.gardenmakers.com/images/D...is-ambigua.jpg

http://www.rmrp.com/Images/Plants/D/...i%20100DPI.jpg

http://www.hlasek.com/foto/digitalis_lutea_4970.jpg

http://www.vanbloem.com/_ccLib/image...s/DETA-667.jpg

http://www.srgc.org.uk/wisley/2008/1...is%20dubia.jpg

http://www.culmviewnursery.co.uk/Dig...rviflora02.jpg

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/file...s-lanata-2.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/newgardener2/...20x%20466).jpg

http://www.mygarden.ws/Digitalis%20davisiana.jpg

http://www.endemic-species-caucasus....is_ciliata.jpg

[BikerDoc5968]

Weebl, I feel your pain... not because of the deer but we have rabbits and woodchucks that devastate almost everything I have growing outside... it's as though I am providing a free cafeteria-style restaurant for these critters!!!!! Now I am interested in planting Cypripedium outside. As you know these are hardy "buckket" orchids and do well in this area but I am fearful of making a significant investment only to feed the critters!!!!!! Now to read your post, gives me pause!

[harleymc]

Haven't encountered deer but possums love Dendrobiums and Dockerillias, - I grow their native food in their native habitat.
here's my solution- that worked a treat for me. in a word - Chilli

make up or purchase chilli oil. ( to make -seep dried chillis in vegetable oil for a few weeks.
Then use this chilli oil the same way you would use white oil about 1:20 oil to water, agitate and spray!
For a fast quick fix cayenne powder sprinkled on your orchids will do the trick very fast! PS the grazers in your yard have good long term memories, they won't rush back to try again!

[Weebl]

I will definitely give the bonemeal a shot, as well as the chili spray. Only time will tell though, as they wont touch anything for weeks and weeks then in a night will eat off every new growth on a Dendrobium kingianum at the base of the growth. Not very encouraging, and the thought of mounting them 10'+ isn't exactly appealing, as it would require irrigation to be hooked up to water them, as they currently are watered with the yard's overhead sprinkler system. Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

[mnoor]

Oh deer oh deer, I will be making an open shade for my chids and my place has monkeys! What's best to prevent them? Maybe full shade fencing will help!

Any suggestions other than the fence?

[got ants]

Deers? Squirrels? Monkeys?

I haven't had to deal with any of that. We do have squirrels, but they only occaisionally dig up a chid for the potting material. Once I stopped using coconut fiber, that stopped.

BUT.....

Yesterday my daughter spotted a 5' iguana in the neighbors yard across the street. I immediately sprung into action. I grabbed my 16' calcutta fishing pole and attached a noose on the end of it. But, by the time I got out there to catch him, he was gone.

I'm prepared now and it's game on!!

Anyone have a good recipe for BarBQ iguana?