stupid squirrel
 

i had my ctna. why not outside on a tree and a squirrel took the sphag and in the process broke the new growth. will it put out a new growth again or is this orchid never going to grow? will it bloom again? i will NEVER keep another orchid outside again!:_( :_(

I'm so sorry for your baby. I'm no expert but I think it will eventually but out new growth. It will need some time to heal from the squirrel attack.

:_( i was gone all day looking at ponds and he came:_(

You should catch him and bite of his tail to see to see if he likes THAT! :rofl:

I stumbled upon an article about squirrels the other day. It was pertaining to the damage they do to young avocados. It said a proven squirrel deterrant is to hang a mesh bag filled with moth balls in the tree. They must also be checked and replaced ever so often. Walgreens is supposed to sell the most effective brand. I wonder if this would work for orchids. Your growing area might smell like Grandma's closet, but it might be worth a try.:)

Don't feel bad, the last time a put something from the Cattleya Alliance out in the tree, the squirrels ate it (except for a couple shredded peices). I'm trying some Epidendrums right now, we'll see if these are on the menu. Yours should be alright, I've broken off keikis before. Oh well, the jokes on the squirrel, that orchid had a disease....that was why it was out there in the first place. Maybe the squirrel caught something, too.:rofl:

i could put a hot pepper on the orchid:evil:

How about a BB gun and hunt that glorified rat down?

i wish i could:evil:

how long will it be before it gets a new growth?

A few years ago, I mixed auto grease (1 lb.) with a 5 lb. canister of cayenne pepper, and smeared it all over the wooden racks that hold my orchids outside.
I would see squirrels climb up, then sit on top and lick off their paws.
Peppers are not a good squirrel deterrent.
I vote for the BB gun. Or a .22.
Something that will work for a year or two: drill holes and hang old CDs (AOL used to send me 5-6 a month, no more!) from your trees and shrubs. The flashing disburbs squirrels until they get used to it. Same with inflatable snakes, owls, etc.
Tree rats. Regards - Nancy

the squirrel came again and got the new growth on my Blc. Keowee 'Mendenhall' and it was the first growth to have a sheath!:_( :_( :_(
what can i do about the squirrel thet is not harmful to pets and not complicated?

Not so! I tried this and they loved the moth balls. I spread moth balls on the ground and they dug holes in between every one of them! I call them tree rats and they diserve any pain they get from pellets from my pellet gun.

Shoot it! :biggrin:

And after you shoot it, check out the recipes here:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...squirrels.html

when i'm there it doesn't come. it's only when i'm gone!

this is what the squirrel did to my poor little orchid!

I've used hav-a-heart traps with some success but the most effective was a rat trap baited with peanut butter and sunflower seeds. Mush the seeds in really tight so the critter has to really work at them to get it, that sets the trap off.

Al
No, I'm not an animal hater, just the opposite, but there comes a point............

the Blc. Keowee 'mendenhall' turned all black. is there anything i can do to save it?

Spray it with copper fungicide and hope for the best! Stupid squirrel ate my Encyclia the other day!

:rofl: :rofl:

update: it seems to have recovered and there are TWO new growths coming out!!!

Now, don't you feel terrible about badmouthing the critter who was just trying to HELP?
Must be a tree rat with a Masters' in horticulture!

:rofl:

i don't feel bad. it killed my Blc. Keowee

Still hate the little buggers :evil: My grandson calls them "Lucky" as in "Lucky the Grey" or "Lucky the Black" :biggrin: That's because it hasn't met my pellet gun yet.

:coverlaugh: