At wits end with iguanas eating every leaf off my taro plants

[miamicuse]

I have different taro plants around the pond.

They have been growing wonderfully until the iguanas came and ate half of them, than they ate all of them. Now all I have are just stalks with no leaves. As soon as the leaves grow back a little bit they come and eat them again. Now they are also eating the young bugs of my orchids that are hung from tree trunks and on plant stands.

I am not sure if there is anything I can do.

Is there anything I can spray onto the leaves to make them taste bad to iguanas?

I saw one suggestion was to plant something else they like more to distract them such as sweet potato plants, does that work? Would that end up attracting more igunanas to my pond area and they end up eating all the taros and orchids again? They do not touch the lillies and irises though guess those are not good eats to them.

 

[tinycat]

I would spray something on those plants that would change the flavor... a quick online search for "iguana repellent" and there is just such a product out there.

 

[Lisak1]

I think you can substitute "rabbits" for "iguanas" and most every gardener would feel your pain. I use a pest repellent to keep the rabbits from eating every dang thing I plant and the chipmunks from replanting every dang seed I put in the ground. It's just made up of smelly things they don't like. The one I use is a granular product that you sprinkle on the soil but I know they make spray forms of the same type of products. You do have to reapply frequently, but maybe that would work.

 

[big ron]

I have different taro plants around the pond.

They have been growing wonderfully until the iguanas came and ate half of them, than they ate all of them. Now all I have are just stalks with no leaves. As soon as the leaves grow back a little bit they come and eat them again. Now they are also eating the young bugs of my orchids that are hung from tree trunks and on plant stands.

I am not sure if there is anything I can do.

Is there anything I can spray onto the leaves to make them taste bad to iguanas?

I saw one suggestion was to plant something else they like more to distract them such as sweet potato plants, does that work? Would that end up attracting more igunanas to my pond area and they end up eating all the taros and orchids again? They do not touch the lillies and irises though guess those are not good eats to them.

I use a product called " Liquid Fence Deer and Rabbit repellent " for my roses and it works great as it keeps the deer away. Will not harm plants or animals . Smells a little like rotten eggs but works great. Rain resistant too. Note : Only get the concentrate as it also comes already mixed but not as good. Good luck

 

[pikaki]

Hi
I had problems for years with toads tearing up my pond's lily leaves. I just tried citrus juice, I used limes because I have a tree nearby has worked now for about a month, might work for you as I believe they are both reptiles
Bill

 

[Stephen Noble]

I am not sure if there is anything I can do.

Is there anything I can spray onto the leaves to make them taste bad to iguanas?

Welcome to Florida sunshine life! You know, some people would die for that problem! Not sure if this will work. Try using a Q-tip that was dipped in rubbing alcohol and coat the top of just one of the leaves. I don't think it will hurt the leaf (that is why I suggest only doing it on the top of one leaf) and see if the residual bitter taste keeps them away. Worth a try.

 

[Sojourner]

I agree with Stephen, welcome to FL. Unfortunately those iguanas are everywhere and they eat anything nice. I live on the water so they'll climb right out of the water or come through holes between neighbors. The Iguana Rid spray is expensive and washes off whenever it rains. Home made Garlic sprays also wash off too. I know if I had an outdoor dog, that would be the best deterrent but my dog isn't outdoors and I worry she would chase an iguana on the sea wall and fall into the water herself. I haven't tried hanging shiny objects like CD disks because that just looks tacky.

 

[SarahT]

Iguanas are also called, "Chicken of the tree" ... they can be humanely ....uh ... removed/ harvested. (I'm vegetarian, even I won't protest).