What is eating my flowers??

I just started a window sill garden. I have gardenmum, verbena, waxed something, impatiants, bee balm, oregano and basil. They ranged in colors purple, red, gold, green, and pink. The only things that have survived is the red waxed and so far the impatiants(but I planted those yesterday along with the bee balm). I thought at first the hard rain made the oregano sink and loose some green until every flower is being eaten till the very dirt touches it. I'm pretty sure it is birds because I live on the second floor. Most these flowers were planted within a week, so I doubt it's bug so soon. What can I do to deter them? I want my flowers and herbs!

What is eating my flowers??
I don't think it's birds either, but I do suspect a rodent of some kind. Mice are amazing little climbers, and do like to nibble flowers. Could be chipmunk or squirrel also, or maybe some other night marauder (you don't mention where you live). And since it happened so fast, and you don't see bugs (or their droppings - black specks indicate caterpillars), I'd say it's a small critter.


Is there any way you can create some sort of cage over your plants? Perhaps something fashioned out of hardware cloth or chicken wire? Not the prettiest to look at, but it may work. Be sure to get the wire with very small openings - mice can get into very small places. Try to get 1/2" or smaller - hardware cloth comes this way (it's not cloth at all, but metal mesh. A bit difficult to work with, you'll need metal shears or tin snips, and gloves, as it's sharp when cut).


Another thing it could be is slugs - they feed at night, and during the day hide in soil or under pot trays. Sometimes you can get a 'case of slugs' from the potting soil you used, or in the soil of the plants you buy at garden centers. You can put out saucers of stale beer to trap them, or get diatomaceous earth to spread on top of the soil - makes the surface 'itchy' for soft bodied slugs. The earth is available at garden centers or pool supply stores, and I think pet supply stores that sell fish supplies (used for filtering). Crushed eggshells can work for this too, especially if your area to cover is small. Cheap and easy too.


Good luck!
Reply:It isn't birds. It sounds to me like root rot. Are the pots well drained? If not, then the plants are sitting in water and are literally drowning.
Reply:it might be a rabbit