I just bought a Dragon tree and a Dieffenbachia (thats what it says on the tag that came with it) I have had problems with some of my other plants from not knowing how to care for them when I got them so I need some tips on caring for these ones. I have re potted them both since I got them and gave them a little plant food. My cats like to chew on my dragon tree ALREADY!! If anyone has tips on keeping the cats away from the plants I would LOVE that to!! But there both in much bigger pots then Before. the Diffenbachia has a couple yellow leaves and a couple that look like something took a bite out of it, but it wasn't my cats on this one cause it was there when I bought it. what might that be? I'm hoping not bugs or something. but how often should they be watered? I tend to kill plants by over watering. any help is MUCH appreciated!! I tryed putting up a pic but my computer is being slow and wont do it so ill try and post one later. Thanks!!
Well, the Dragon tree is scientifically called a Draceana, and the Dieff is a Dieff. Let them dry out well between waterings and give them sunshine, and they should be fine. Dieffs in particular are very hard to kill. Unless your cats are doing serious damage to the Drac, I wouldn't worry about it, however my most sucessful technique for keeping cats out of plants is a spray bottle full of water - every time the cats start nibbling, give 'em a squirt. They'll learn pretty fast. I'd need to see pics of the Dieff to tell you what's wrong with it - it may have been damaged in shipping, or something may actually have taken a bite. That latter is a bit rarer, though, since not many critters outside of their native jungles will eat Dieffenbachia. Your cats may take one nibble, but after that they will avoid eating it - Dieffs contain a high concentration of oxalic acid, which the cats will read as unpleasant-tasting.
The problem with my cats and the dragon tree is that they wait till i'm not around to chew on it, like in the middle of the night or while I'm gone. I have been putting it on top of my fridge when Im not home or sleeping but it would be nice to have it kept down all the time. I heard putting pepper around in the dirt would help but I dont know if thats safe or not or if it would even work. but I'm going to try and post some pics of the Dieff and for an example of how much my cats like to eat my plants that have long palm like leaves, I have a ponytail palm that has no leaves left from my Sasha eating it :( Im going to be cutting the top off and sealing it to get new growth cause its just pathetic now. Im lost at keeping her out of them cause I have tried the water bottle to and it works for my older one but not Sasha....
I have had friends with cats who had similar appetites for plants, but after they started spraying the plant leaves with a mixture of cayenne pepper and water the cats stopped! It only took them a few tries before they stopped. The cayenne pepper causes a hot burning sensation in their mouths, but apparently won't harm them. Let me know if it works! Good Luck!
Greetings Guiness1982! I am just curious how the pepper spray has been working out for you with your cats and plants??? Any luck with it??? let me know!
Guinnese 1982, Buy your cats some "cat grass" to chew on. They also seem to like spider plants, which are harmless. And yes, spray everything you don't want chewed on with Cayenne peper. Cats will taste, "nasty", "hot", "burn mouth", "hurt eyes" and hopefully learn to leave it alone. barb
