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Posted By: Malika - My cat is eating my orchids - 07/26/08 07:24 PM
It seems that cats love orchids. And it seems to be a common problem with them eating them. So, although there isn't a spray to keep them away (wouldn't that be convenient) there are things you can do to stop your cat from eating your orchids or other plants.

You can usually find sweetgrass at your local garden center in 2" or 4" pots. Cats find this yummy and it will distract them from eating your orchids.

Another option is to put a small amount of cayenne pepper around the plants. Note that this can only be done for a short amount of time like 4-5 days to discourage your cat. After that it should be washed away otherwise it could be harmful to the plant.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

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How to Grow the Most Breathtakingly Beautiful Orchids
Posted By: nancyanne Re: My cat is eating my orchids - 08/16/08 10:56 PM
You will only have to do this (maybe) twice...keep a sprayer full of water close at hand, set on 'stream' - when the kitty starts to molest a plant, a blast of water in the face, seemingly from nowhere, turns them off pretty quickly. My cats would never, ever touch a potted plant!
Wish this worked with iguanas - they like it.
Regards - Nancy
Posted By: orchidexpress Re: My cat is eating my orchids - 12/29/08 07:22 PM
I have heard that you can put clove oil on a q-tip head and just bury it just below the plant soil and it should deter your cats. I have been telling epole this for years. I read it in a 'Hints from Heloise' book.

Happy Growing!

Lee Rowell
Orchid Express & Leasing
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Posted By: conniem Re: My cat is eating my orchids - 12/30/08 12:22 AM
We put mothballs outside in my rose beds to keep our dogs out, but I never had any problems with my indoor plants. You might but some mothballs in a ziplock baggie and poke a few holes in it and put that in your plant.
Posted By: Claybird Re: My cat is eating my orchids - 12/30/08 02:53 PM
I don't have orchids (how I wish I could grow them!) but I do have 40-50 other houseplants and 2 indoor cats. I found that the guys are satisfied with a generous pinch of dried catnip every few days; that seems to fill their need for munching on something green.
But it doesn't stop them from playing with the more dangly plants, like the spider plant, so I have to curl the "spiders" up to keep them out of the cats' reach.
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