HELP PLZ!! MONSTER EATING MY CHIDS!!

[Jkelee]

I go out every day and baby my babies with LOVE.

This morning I broke down with tears in my eyes
And ANGER in my Veins!!

There was some MONSTER ate the end of one of my Tolumnia's that has been growing it's LONG spike for about 3-4 months now, about 2' tall!! The end completely gone!! With that I hoped I could save the rest of it, and it still bloom.

Well then I noticed the worst part! She was broken, way down low by the plant No way to save her

I found sooooo many more Tolumnia's and Onci's tore up!! The ate every new growth, and even old ones...

I have NO IDEA what did this?? I'm blaming squirrels, but I don't know if it could have been all the tiny little geckos we have? I don't think a gecko could break my Tolumnia spike? It was soooo big, and thick too!

I keep them outside, cause they all do soooo well, but my God, the price I'm paying now...
I'm just soooo heart broken.

Any ideas on WHAT did this??

And HOW to prevent it??

[Leisurely]

It was either a rat or a squirrel. Take your pick. I have had problems with both over the years so I am very familiar with the damage that they cause. Hang CD's by a fishing line among your plants and and it will deter squirrels. I don't know about rats because they are active at night and the glare that keeps them at bay would not be available at night.

[Cookiemonster]

Oh man Im sorry :S:S ... I have no idea what got your plants but I would certainly want to do the critter harm ...
Hopefully the other members can provide you with better info!
Good luck

[kiki-do]

Oh Jackie what a horrible thing! There's got to be something to stop them! I have deer and groundhogs that try and eat my perennial gardens flowers and I spray "Deer Off" on my buds and it smells horrid, but the animals won't bother with them. Not sure how safe it is for orchids, but if it's safe for all garden flowers, it should be, huh? Also, there's a homemade deer repellent free online that has the same type ingredients and it's stuff like cheyenne pepper, vinegar, soap, etc.
I use all but the pepper on my orchids as a bug killing formula, so maybe this might work?????
Oh my heart aches for you! I'm so sorry!

[Lagoon]

I feel your pain Jackie, I really do
I've lost a good number to the critters outdoors. It's such a shame they grow so beautiful outside until some unknown yahooer has to come by only to tear up and kill your orchids.

The squirrels have been the worst offenders for me. Rabbits did some damage. I even had blue jays ripping off my sphag and eatting the perlite - wow what a mess (that was kinda funny though)

I only put out a few orchids now, they stay on the balconey where I'm able to bring them inside quickly anytime.

Sorry about your orchids Jackie, sometimes nature can be cruel to the things we enjoy the most.

[Sandy4453]

I'm heartbroken for you Jkelee, I really am.

Are there any cats in your neighborhood? I have 2 myself and one is a lover of orchids except for my Phals. She eats leaves and loves to snap and chew the spikes off. She too, ripped into an Onc. of mine, looked like it had gone through a paper shredder. I now keep all orchids out of her reach.

I'm so sorry this happened for you. My condolences.

[Jkelee]

That's good info on the CD's, Thanks! I'll try that this weekend!

Originally Posted by Leisurely

Hang CD's by a fishing line among your plants and and it will deter squirrels. I don't know about rats because they are active at night and the glare that keeps them at bay would not be available at night.

[Jkelee]

I have Pepper Spray for my other flowers/bulbs. I just was so afraid to use it on my Chids.

Originally Posted by kiki-do

Oh Jackie what a horrible thing! There's got to be something to stop them! I have deer and groundhogs that try and eat my perennial gardens flowers and I spray "Deer Off" on my buds and it smells horrid, but the animals won't bother with them. Not sure how safe it is for orchids, but if it's safe for all garden flowers, it should be, huh? Also, there's a homemade deer repellent free online that has the same type ingredients and it's stuff like cheyenne pepper, vinegar, soap, etc.
I use all but the pepper on my orchids as a bug killing formula, so maybe this might work?????
Oh my heart aches for you! I'm so sorry!

[Jkelee]

I don't think this was a Cat, as they would have to be a Superman Cat, hanging from the rafters of my Chid hotel! As all of these are Way up High, and some are hanging by nail, on the rafters 6' off the ground. They'd have to be one hell of a jumper, and HOLD ON, While chewing!

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

I'm heartbroken for you Jkelee, I really am.

Are there any cats in your neighborhood? I have 2 myself and one is a lover of orchids except for my Phals. She eats leaves and loves to snap and chew the spikes off. She too, ripped into an Onc. of mine, looked like it had gone through a paper shredder. I now keep all orchids out of her reach.

I'm so sorry this happened for you. My condolences.

[Jkelee]

Thank you ALL for your Condolenses, and words of advise and wisdom.

One more thing, This weekend we are going to run lots of carpet tack strip, on every single 2x4 & 2x6, and every other nook and cranny I can find that those pukes run and hang on to get to my babies!!!

Hopefully one wrong step on my Chid Hotel, and they WON'T BE BACK!! I'm sorry if anybody hates that idea, but I can't take anymore of this

We wait months and months for something to 'appear' on our babies, and these pukes come and take our Joy away