Cinnamon or Cayenne pepper spray??
 

First, Hi everyone I'm Liz :)

So today my mother in law and I where visiting the local nursery and they had these gorgeous and funky Dendrobium type orchids that I personally had never seen before.

I bought two thinking they'd look great in our southern window (and they totally do!) however i didn't consider my cat. She wants to chew the leaves so bad. I've been reading a lot and most sites are recommending Cinnamon or a Cayenne pepper spray on the leaves.

I've read cinnamon has been used to help heal some orchids from fungus? But how would it be permanently on the leaves? or at least a month or two till the cat loses interest? Same with the cayenne pepper? I know cinnamon probably will be the first recommendation but I'm worried if that doesn't work then how about the cayenne pepper? and I'm talking directly on the leaves not in the soil.
Thanks!

Don't bother with the cinnamon, it won't do a thing to discourage the cat. The pepper spray is a better idea. There is even a product on the market called "Hot Pepper Wax" that is intended to discourage chewing insects, and I suspect it would work for the cat, too.

you might can make a thick paste of red pepper powder and a tsp of alcohol...put it in a sprayer with a tsp of dish soap and mix the water in.....the alcohol will help the powder mix with the soap and water, and the soap will help stick it to the leaves....or you could muzzle the cat....lol...actually i think all these preparations only work to make the animal sick and dont teach em a thing....if a cat likes to chew leaves, get him some cat grass and put it beside whatever it is he is chewing on....distraction instead of confrontation...

Look at your pet stores for a product called "Bitter Apple"- spray it on your plants and the cats stay well away, it tastes awful.
Has worked like a charm for me for years.

I'll also get some cat grass seed from the petstore and have a little pot of that growing near whatever plants the cats chew on- once I spray the plants with bitter apple, they chow down on the cat grass.

Welcome to OB!

I thought I should warn you that cayenne pepper does not always work. I have come across a few cats that seemed to like it.

I had this experience too- hence why I swear by Bitter Apple now- large spray bottle has lasted several years.

By the way, welcome!! I'm a 'Liz' too! Always nice to have another one in the community. ;)

Thanks so much everyone! I had my doubts about the cinnamon too.

I will look into this Bitter apple stuff and try ceyanne for now.

What about squirrels? now That I put some plants outside on the fire escape teh curious rodents come up and dig some pots...

one old cane of a dendrobium was slightly chewed. Don't they have enough food in the yard?

could I mix a bottle of cheap tabasco substitute in a quart of water and spray?

stefano

i think moth balls will deter squirrels....but they smell yucky!