Chipmunk Damage - Where To Go From Here

[rhillier]

Greetings,

For the past two years, I have been growing single specimens of approximately 20 varieties of VFT indoors. I gave them a good sleep this past winter. Because they never really got a good meal during that time, I put them out on my front porch to catch whatever came their way.

The bad news is that a chipmunk wreaked havoc on everything, including wandering off with a couple of whole plants. Most of what's left is pretty much torn up, but there are parts of the "bulbs" left in each pot... not too much in terms of growth crowns, but the rest is still fresh and white.

I am in the process of replanting them and dividing the larger pieces to have backup copies of the plants wherever possible.

The problem is that it is almost time for their winter slumber, but I fear that they may not bounce back.

I am wondering if I am wrong in that assumption, or would it be possible to grow the cuttings out over the winter, thus skipping the dormancy and put them back to sleep when the following winter arrives.

In case locale has anything to do with it, I am in Southern Ontario, and we have had our first frosts.

Thanks for any advice,

>>> Rick <<<

[mmlr38]

Rick,

I'm so sorry to hear about your misfortune. It made me sick to read that.

I am fairly confident that you could grow the cuttings over the winter and skip dormancy and then put them to sleep next winter. I did something similar with a couple of plants this year.

I purchased 2 VFTs from Home Depot in early March. They had been on the shelf since last August, so I assume they hadn't had a dormancy since the previous winter. I brought them home and completely tore them apart. I took every single leaf base and peeled it away from the rhizome. Then I stuck the pullings sphagnum peat moss and distilled water and put them in my terrarium. The pullings started growing new little plants within 4 to 6 weeks.

I left them in the terrarium from March until mid May or so. Then I moved them outside. They continued to grow throughout the summer. Now, I must have somewhere near 50 plants from those 2 plants that I completely tore up in March. I am letting them all enter dormancy now. They seem to be doing fine.

I hope that helps. Again, I'm sorry to hear about your tragedy.

Matt

[ieatflys]

The same thing happened to me. Here's what I did to keep them away 1 sank pots into the ground 2 put chicken wire up and ran a low wattage of electricity through it and then I set live traps. this worked pretty well eventually they went away so I turned the battery off.

Sorry about your plants hope this helps.

[mmlr38]

I forgot to mention that I was having problems with the squirrels here. I too had to take some preventative measures. I built a bottomless cage to set over the top of my plants. I made it out of chicken wire and 2"x2" boards. Pretty simple, but it works.

[rhillier]

Thanks for the advice... I'll try growing them out then...

I have had the animal problem with my bog garden out back... everything from squirrels to chipmunks, 'coons and lots of birds. I built an enclosure in sections of 1x1 wood for the framework and that fine black netting that is used to keep birds, etc. out of fruit trees. Still ugly, but necessary, and it works.

Too bad it didn't save it from being devastated by a massive hailstorm this summer. Every single growth crown and most of the rhizomes were crushed.

>>> Rick <<<

[mmlr38]

Oct 10, 2008 21:57:27 GMT rhillier said:

Too bad it didn't save it from being devastated by a massive hailstorm this summer. Every single growth crown and most of the rhizomes were crushed.

Earlier this year my plants got hit pretty hard by a hail storm too. I was home at the time though, so luckily I was able to go outside and put a tarp over them to prevent serious damage.

After reading and posting to this thread, I realize that I can't wait to get my greenhouse set up!