Growing pleiones - the hard way...

[Maren]

Hi,
as I walked into my greenhouse on Thursday, I was greeted by a pot on the floor. It soon became clear that some animal had invaded the house and created havoc, throwing pots here and there, pulling pleiones out of pots, eating the flowers and buds and trashing the place. The pictures below tell the story.







I immediately thought: rats!! and went to the local garden centre to buy all the ammunition required, traps and poisons. These were soon deployed. All the loose pseudobulbs were potted again with great delicacy because many had already developed a good root system. Pots and labels were straightened and fingers crossed.



Even a Cymbidium was chewed right through the new pseudobulb and leaves. Chewed pleione flowers and buds everywhere.





Today, sadly, it was the same as the day before, pots and pleiones everywhere, more things chewed and eaten - and me with a broken heart.





All these plants had been nurtured and pampered for the London Orchid Show next week. Well, they're not going and neither will I. It's enough to make one want to chuck it all in, sell the lot and travel the world. I'm seriously thinking about it.

PS. The only good thing today was a talk given by Ian, Maggi's husband, at the AGS Chiltern branch. The talk was very interesting, beautifully constructed, engaging and informative. And it was nice to have a brief chat with Ian - put a face to a name. Thank you, Ian.

[johnw]

Maren - This is horrendous and I understand your state of mind.  Could it have been a squirrel?  I have had mice on one occasion decimate my cyclamen but I can't recall pots being wrenched from the flats as I see there.  Are the windows and door screened or do you think it is hiding somewhere in there?  Do catch the creature whatever it is.  Perhaps a live trap too with peanut butter.  Best of luck.

johnw

[fleurbleue]

Maren, I imagine well what you have felt seeing that  Hope you will find and catch the culprit very soon

[Alex]

Sorry to see this Maren. I have had some similar experiences and it is surprising how quickly you can put things back together again, although your collection is rather larger than mine.

I have learned to screen all open doors and windows now. The only thing this hasn't kept out so far was the man (would-be house burglar I'm pretty sure) I found sleeping on the greenhouse floor one Winter morning two years ago. He heard the heaters and thought it would be a warm bed for the night 

All the best getting it back in order as quickly as poss.

Alex

[Brian Ellis]

Maren, what an absolutely dreadful thing to happen at any time, but just before the show it's devestating.  My every sympathy, hopefully there is plenty that can be rescued and nurtured.  Most importantly is that you find the perpetrator and stop it happening again.

[monocotman]

Maren,
I feel for you - such a shock on both days.
I'd be inclines to think that whtever got into your greenhouse was pretty big to cause that amount of damage and toss the pots around like that.
Is it possible it could have been a deer?
Regards,
David

[Sarmienta]

Maren,what  a terrible nightmare .I feel with you,and hope you,ll quickly forget this nasty event.

Wim

[Maggi Young]

I was offline quite "early" last night so I just found out about this when I spoke to Ian on the phone this morning and he told me of this horrible attack that Maren's pleione's have suffered. We are both distressed to think of all that damage done and hopes for the flower show ruined.
Most important thing now is to catch the culprit(s?) and try to find how it happened.


Deeply disappointing, Maren, but you'll get through it. 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

What a dreadful shame !! 
Don't give up Maren and get that evil culprit asap !
All the best getting things in place again !

[Slug Killer]

How upsetting.

I had a Robin do some damage trying to get out last year and found it dead on the floor which to be honest made me feel very sorry for the poor little thing even if it had damaged some plants.

You obviously have had something far larger and as previously mentioned I'd go along with the squirrel theory. You can get humane traps but legally in the UK once you catch a grey squirrel you are not allowed to release it back in to the wild. The Kania 2000 trap is probably your best bet.

Did think it may have been a cat but if it's been eating plants you can rule it out.

Chin up and move forward.

David

[Graham Catlow]

Maren
I've had the odd loss in both the garden and pots but never anything like that.
I can only imagine how you felt when you first entered the greenhouse.

My guess would also be a squirrel.

Don't even think of giving up.

Graham

[Slug Killer]

Just thinking maybe it was a Magpie that got in there?

[Maren]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and advice. Ian B thinks I may have a rat's nest under one of the benches. When I'm not there, the doors are always locked and the side vents shut, the roof vent is open about 10 cm. Whatever critter it is, it must have come in when I was there, doors wide open.

I haven't been at the nursery today, been busy giving orchid advice at one of the local garden centre's orchid days, re-potting phalaenopsis and answering questions like: "I've had this () orchid for a year. How do I make it flower again?" It passed the time and stopped me brooding (and crying my eyes out), and they gave me a very nice, large oncidium in return.

Tomorrow I'll look for the rat's nest. It means clearing out all the stuff that's kept under the benches, masses of it, compost, moss, pots, seed trays.....with nowhere else to go. But needs must. And now that I don't have to worry about getting ready for the show any more (sob sob), I have no excuse. - Mañana............
 

[Pete Clarke]

Oh Maren, I to feel for you. How frustrating after all your hard work, to see a seasons joy spoiled. However the Pleione bug will see you overcome this I am sure.

[angie]

Maren just read this post. So sorry to see all the disruption in your greenhouse, you must be so upset. I do hope you find the culprit. I really feel for you.

Angie