Squirrel damaged the stem

[Raimisx9]

Hello all! Hope you’re doing great!
So my problems with Vandas continue… I hang this Vanda on a tree after praying with fungicide only to find that squirrel damaged the root and the stem. What should I do? Will the plant be okey?
Thank You all!!!

[Jmbaum]

Oh yes squirrels are the worst, used to eat all the buds on my Góngora every time it would try to bloom. I never had great luck keeping them away short of physical means, but could try hanging dried hot peppers on the basket. Sounds weird but they apparently don’t care much for it.

That said, just make sure the wound dries or you could use a rooting powder as well, they tend to be hydrophobic and will coat the opening.
Additionally you could temporarily grow it pendulous to stop water from collecting at the base of the leaves while it heals.

The roots below look quite strong, so shouldn’t cause an issue.

[Raimisx9]

Thank You so much for the info! I will try not to spray the water into the wound. Also I used Physan to desinfect it!
Also the squirrel came back and broke or chewed off the bottom leaves… so know it looks a little unbalanced, what do you think? Maybe when it eill grow little taller it will be more pleasant to eyes

[Jmbaum]

Originally Posted by Raimisx9

Thank You so much for the info! I will try not to spray the water into the wound. Also I used Physan to desinfect it!
Also the squirrel came back and broke or chewed off the bottom leaves… so know it looks a little unbalanced, what do you think? Maybe when it eill grow little taller it will be more pleasant to eyes

Actually the squirrel didn’t do too badly, I appreciate that clear space. I’d opt for keiki paste or rooting hormone, to get a strong multi growth plant going. Might work out for the better in the long haul. In nature they get beat up far far worse. Can’t imagine plant is bothered much... but it does seem the squirrel WILL indeed be back as your lovely Vanda is a viable food source.

[Raimisx9]

Thank You for the insight! Maybe that bare stem doesn’t look to bad. I was said that keikis on this particular Vanda variety is very unkomon, but she is sending roots on bare stem area as I can see little bumps on the stem so soon that area will be covered with thick roots

[Roberta]

Different situation, it's really a long shot, but I wonder if this would help in the squirrel department... I haven't had much problem with squirrels and my orchids, but avocados are a different story. Someone in my neighborhood claimed that one could deter the nasty creatures with a fake owl. (He even put a half-eaten avocado near his owl, photographed a squirrel looking at both, and leaving. I was very doubtful but the cost to try was low (like $10 on Amazon), certainly wasn't going to harm anything.. Amazingly, it worked very well for most of the season... hardly any got nibbled after I put that cheezy plastic owl in my tree. (Late season I had some raccoon damage, no way that I know to deter THOSE.) Now... perhaps squirrels in Lithuania are smarter than the ones in my yard. (Clearly mine are not very bright, so that's a low standard.) But maybe, just maybe, worth a try... at least it's non-toxic.