If you think you know how to grow Vandas, WRONG...THIS is how to do it!

[Orchonubee]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Three reasons I know of.

One, they poop a lot and people don’t want that
Two, they sleep and breed in the trees so people want to reduce the places for that and reduce their spread, and
Three, they eat plants, especially love flower spikes, so if you are growing a plant whose flowers you value....you want them out

They cause millions in damage to roads and bridges and sea walls and they out compete local lizards. Green devils lol

Let me add:
They are especially fond of fruit, mangoes maybe their favorite. But any tropical fruit is on their menu! A friend in Hollywood, Fl had a nice mango tree. Each year it produced hundreds. Once the iguanas discovered the tree, they wiped them out before he could harvest even one!

[Mr.Fakename]

Life in South Florida seems no different than an episode of Man VS Wild

[DirtyCoconuts]

There is a lot of truth to that, IF you are trying to cultivate. It is remarkably easy for the average Jane to not do any landscaping and let the plants simply fill it in on their own. The critters, even the invasive species, have a base level where there are still tons of flowers and fruits

BUT, if there is a single leaf, bud or branch your care about, it will be set upon my everything and it’s predators lol

Last night I did normal rounds which consist of a walk around the property looking for sleeping iguanas or awake rats. Found none. Then I walk the front yard, removed 10-14 snails from my cannas, heaved them into the street

Side yard, found dead rat by the trap, disposed of it

Orchid yard. Relocated an opossum (amazing animals. I am a huge fan) and in the process found a nice black racer snake. This is a conflict bc my dogs go nuts to chase them but they eat rats... I try to leave them


That’s a normal patrol with little activity. Most nights I have to do more

You have to love the battle too

[estación seca]

Iguanas damage bridges?

[DirtyCoconuts]

To the tune of 3-4 million a year. They dig burrows adjacent to water and with the amount of canals we have that puts them in three places a lot; bridges, overpasses and sea walls.

When they dig and then leave a hole the next rainy season it will turn into a runoff and then erode the foundation.

[estación seca]

Oh, yes, I see.

[Fairorchids]

Minor thread drift:

Not too shabby for a NJ grower (3 spikes, #3 is sorta hidden behind #1). This is V. Wirat Gordon (Wirat x Gordon Dillon).

[DirtyCoconuts]

Wow! Okay, maybe there is room for debate! Well done, Kim