Bamboo plant

15 years ago

I've wanted a Bamboo plant for some time and was in a store the other day where they were selling them, They were rooted and in water, so I bought one and put it in water and set it on the window sill. Well, by cat, Buster won't leave it alone. He keeps trying to eat it. Guess this one will go the way all of the palm plants I've tried to grow. The cats always try to eat them.

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Comments (13)

Jasdip
15 years ago
Dotmom, anything leafy like spiders, palms, dracaenas, and the bamboo are delicious tidbits to my cats!

I bought a nice little palm not long ago and even tried to hide it among the bigger plants. Sure enough, Bud found it and the ends were chewed.

Watch for little bits of green in your kitty's leavings on the carpet! ;-)

I've given mom some of my plants that were chewed. She did say that she'd like one that was in *good* shape! LOL
country_bumpkin_al
15 years ago
I have the same problem with CeCe! He shredded a Lucky Bamboo, a Ponytail Palm and a few others. Several months ago I bought another Lucky Bamboo and I put in behind the facet of hte kitchen sink, in the window. I keep water in the sink. So far he hasn't bothered it! Few weeks ago, I bought another Ponytail Palm. It's small enough fo put in a hanging basket, so it's hanging over the side of the sink that has water! So far, he hasn't bothered either plant.
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Well, a clarification might be good. When you say there is a tiny amount of organic matter, does that mean that originally, there was some soil and it has just been washed away? It sounds like it is mostly a water plant now, is that right? Maybe give the roots a good rinse under running water - very gently, of course! - and then put it back in the pot (after cleaning it, just in case there was a problem with it), and fill it with water. Roots that are used to being in water shouldn't be put in soil too abruptly, I think. (And vice versa, I believe. They are different kinds of roots.) And you might not even want to transition to soil anyway -- that is a little bit of a project - though a doable one I think. However, if it was used to some sort of soil, then the more typical guidance on this forum - especially about 5-1-1 soil mixes - would probably be the way to go. From what you say though, it sounds as though this has mostly always been a water plant. The pot has no drainage, right? That usually means a water plant, I should think. What we really need is Al! He is busy though bc so many people want his opinion on things. Oh, btw, if it's a water plant... maybe there is a water plant forum here. I bet there is. Seems like there's a group for almost every kind of plant. They might have good ideas. In retrospect, I think maybe the fertilizer did upset the plant... but I think it can recover. Good luck!!!
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sue_va
15 years ago
The only houseplant that Lottiecat likes is the Purple Shamrock (Oxalis). She would kill to get to it. Then she eats the leaves and throws up. Ugh!.

Now I just let it overwinter in the garage. It dies back, comes back in the spring and I keep it outside.

This year I brought two Hibiscus plants inside and she doesn't bother them, or the croton, parlor palm or philodendron.

I've never had a Lucky Bamboo.

Sue
dotmom
Original Author
15 years ago
I have a huge spider plant, in a hanging pot that he can't get to. My tall (I call) corn plant, and some philodendrons cuttings, all rooted, I planted at the base of it, he doesn't bother. I'll give my bamboo to the neighbor who gave me the philodendron cuttings. She has a lot of plants and no cat.
Jasdip
15 years ago
Bud loved my parlor palm. I even spritzed it with hot sauce to deter him from chewing.

There's a spray you can buy. It's to be sprayed on furniture and plants you don't want the cats to go near. It smells awful.
It's easier to just not buy the plant than to keep spraying.
dotmom
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh, and I also have a Hoya, which I wish would bloom, but I've had it for 9-10 yrs and it just sends our runners. The spider plant hangs above it and when baby spiders are hanging down over it, I often find the Hoya sends a runner and starts climbing up to the mother spider plant. I kinda think that is eerie.
jannie
15 years ago
My cat/ cats always munch my houseplants. Cleaning up and getting rid of the plants once they are really dead is all I can do. I love my cats more than the plants.
dotmom
Original Author
15 years ago
Jasdip, that doesn't sound like something I want to do, spray a smelly concoction, I will do without the plants.

Jannie, I hear you, Buster means more to me than any old plant. I was thinking because I really like the look of a Palm plant, maybe I'll look for an artificial one. No watering...just dusting. LOL
Jasdip
15 years ago
If it's any consolation Dotmom, most cats leave large-leaved plants alone. They like the fine, grassy type leaves.
Your hoya would be safe, as you know, as well as ficus, hawaiian schefflera, dieffenbachia, etc.
You're lucky he hasn't tried to eat your spider plant.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
remember that many house plants can be dangerous for our pets.

Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

Plants Poisonous to Cats

Potentially Hazardous Plants

a few good lists for reference. I learned the hard way with one of my cats, that got very sick from a plant but thankfully made it after some expensive vet help.

I also now check lists before giving my dog any human foods, since so many can be toxic to dogs, like onions, and grapes and raisins etc. I also just learned that any food with artificial sweetener should never be given to dogs, I was letting my little dog have a spoon full of my yogurt in her bowl when I ate it and it does have artificial sweetener, no more sharing!
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog
mariend
15 years ago
I guess I have been lucky because over the years, we have had lots of cats (rural area) and they never have bothered my plants. But my cats were in/out cats.
phyllis__mn
15 years ago
I had never had a cat that was toxic to my plants, until Libby came to live with me.....she ate African violets, shredded Christmas Cactus, finished off my hoya, and ate my seedling pepper plants. After much spraying (on her), she finally was leaving them alone. But when I brought in gorgeous Coleus, she reverted. She is sneaky, though....she just sort of walks by and brushes against them!
Jasdip
15 years ago
Raven, my oldest cat Smudge loves yogurt!
He can smell us eating it from another room and just shows up, practically putting his face in the dish. We only eat vanilla yogurt, and I just checked and it just says sugar, that I see.
I wonder if cats and dogs have similar reactions to foods.