Adding loam-based soil over the roots can help keep the budding flora happy. This is also true when they bite a stem the edge is jagged. I have parrots and I don't like to use anything poisonous in my house. We earn from qualifying purchases. To care for a Hawaiian Ti provide it with well-draining peat-based potting soil and a temperature between 64-79F (18-26C) and bright indirect sunlight. Their marks on leaves is distinct: They cut neatly edged, half-moon disks along leaf edges. Place your cane cuttings into a pot with fresh soil with organic matter such as perlite, moss, and vermiculite. 2: Hornworms. Ti leaves also has many non-food uses. Once reaching full maturity, the Ti plant can oftentimes reach heights of about 10 feet with a width of four feet. Is the Hawaiian Ti plant an annual or perennial plant? Next time you and your husband take a vacation to the tropics, consider bringing home something tangible from there and incorporate it into your home. Make the spray by peeling the garlic and pureeing the cloves along with the oil and water. Ti leaf lei are super popular at graduation and birthday parties. Thread starter tonybrowning; Start date Jun 8, 2020; T. tonybrowning. While a single beetle wont cause much damage, it can wreak havoc on a group garden. Pets and other small animals. The first is watering all plants with an aqueous solution of castor oil. You can choose just about any type of soil, even clay, as long as there are drainage holes. Soaps and oils are effective on the small, soft-bodied pests in this group (aphids, whiteflies, scales, and spider mites) but not the larger ones such as stink bugs. I would love to get an all-around pesticide that will kill them all off, but will not injure the plants themselves. You don't really see ti leaves for sale at supermarkets, but everyone has a friend with a few ti leaf plants at home. Entrust is an organically approved insecticide that is highly efficacious against caterpillars. The best way to protect your garden from rodents and other mammals is to shield your plants with fencing or row covers. Another option: introduce a variation of the same colors, slightly lighter hue, maybe an apricot color on a small accessory somewhere in your bedroom. 2022 Woodstream Corporation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Discard the ti leaves/outer layer, and eat the luau leaf bundle filled with all the meats, fish, and veggies! Making sure that the roots have ample space to grow is key in keeping this plant healthy. Dried leaves should be soaked to soften before using. A real shame. Aloha Nancy! They don't eat to leave holes in the leaves; instead, they penetrate the leaves and stems, sucking the plant's juices. } Hawaiian Ti needs bright indirect sunlight to thrive. Good Bug, Bad Bug: How Can You Tell the Difference? The plant ranges from 3-8 feet tall. I dont know what any of these bugs are, and I heard you have to know what pests you have in order to buy the right pesticides but I just am unsure. Growing Ti Plants Stem Cutting 2. Aphids: Aphids are tiny insects that are green, red, or gray. Then, just pour it into a spray bottle and use it to cover the infected plants. Certain households may have water that contains too much fluoride or chlorine in their tap water. I also use Fish Emulsion to rid scale. "acceptedAnswer": { They could also be attacked by pests like rats, voles, rabbits, squirrels, or birds. Early dawn is when insects like aphids are most active. If you are growing this vegetable in your garden, keep an eye out for: Aphids. Any idea what variety/cultivar of ti leaves are used for wrapping lau lau? Protection is best done in two stages. (scale look like brown or white bumps and can be removed w/fingernail) If they're enbedded in the leaves, it could be anything from soil being kept too dry to insect damage.Could the worm you saw be a milipede? Just to make things easy, weve added a list of the five most important care facts related to your Hawaiian Ti plant! If you have June bug larvae in your garden, you may see brown spots forming on your lawn. They can devour an entire plant if they are hungry enough. You can identify sawfly larvae by the way they look and act a lot like caterpillarsin fact, to many gardeners, the difference seems merely academic since the damage they do to leaves is comparable. Many Caterpillars boast camouflage that allows them to blend in with the leaves they are eating. I need help as soon as possible so I know my plants are safe. How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Plants 5 Proven Ways! Move your plant to a location where there is less direct sunlight. Possibilities are endless. Few things dampen enthusiasm for growing your own vegetables quite like finding hordes of bugs chewing, sucking and otherwise destroying the leaves of your plants. Chemical pesticides can be effective against pests, but they can also contaminate the soil. You can usually identify rabbit damage by looking for droppings or footprints. Cause:If you notice that the lower leaves have started to dry up and fall, you can be pretty sure that it is a result of underwatering. 2 drops of dishsoap per mister of water. "name": "Is the Hawaiian Ti plant an annual or perennial plant? Dont touch any growth that is closer than that. Funny thing - my friend Steph gave us a dozen ti leaves which I brought to my parent's house to make lau lau. "name": "How do you prune a Hawaiian Ti plant? Some types of caterpillars, like cutworms, also feed on the stems of plants, which can cause plants to topple over. Leaves . }, "@type": "Answer", Cause:The average color of a Ti plants foliage ranges from red to green. { He was reddish brown, and about the size of a flea. Humidity 4. Find the right watering schedule for your plant so that the soil stays relatively moist without getting too dried out. Plantophiles 2023 |UpVision GmbH | Privacy Policy | About us, Join our Facebook Group About Houseplants and Gardening. I bought my first Angel's Wings in autumn and hadn't the heart to put it outside. If you can keep it away from your other plants for a few weeks, checking it often, you might be good, same with you, Linda, and spray the dracena too. Spots located on the foliage are due to a fungal pathogen. In that case, William G. Hudson, an Extension entomologist with the University of Georgia knows your pain. Dont touch any growth that is closer than that. Symptoms are rolled leaves, twisted shoots, stunted growth and blackened necrotic areas. Haha. Very small little worm-like critter. From irregularly shaped holes on the leaves to chewed stems, common culprits and their . Make sure the soil has good drainage. I hope this helps clarify the difference between the two leaves. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Find a spot that has plenty of warm, indirect sunlight. You will usually spot them hiding inside blossoms or growing shoots of plants. First two years I pulled the corms before cold weather, now I leave them in the ground and mulch heavily. Q. You can also cover the heads so birds can't get to them so easily. Thrips, yet another dangerous insect to be around dahlia plants. If you choose this option, he says to be sure that the spray completely coats the insects. They also chisel away bark on woody plants, especially in fall and winter. Wash each of the ti. Here's the difference between the two, and when/how to use each leaf. If anyone has any good suggestions for getting rid of these critters let me know. Cordyline fruticosa isnt picky when it comes to temperature. However, a rabbit can eat a hosta so severely in a few scant hours that it kills the plant. If you feel that this might be the case, proceed to water with distilled water. Fall Strategies for Spring Insect Control. Apply natural insecticides like neem oil and horticultural oil whenever you see the little insects crawling on the leaf surfaces. While snails usually eat the leaves of younger plants, theyll much on almost any plant in your garden. People often confuse Ti Leaf and Luau Leaf (the two essential leaves of Hawaiian food). That is a sure sign Caterpillars are coming. Taro plants are grown throughout Hawaii, but the best come from Kauai island. Unfortunately, direct exposure can make the leaves lose their vibrancy. Hudson suggested digging iris up every few years and thinning out the beds, moving extra plants to new beds, or sharing them with friends. Their feeding causes brown patches in grass and a spongy feel underfoot. They usually appear on plants with rosette-shaped leaves. Aphids are likely to attack your plant if the leaves and stems of the plant have begun to wilt. These munchers eat irregular holes in leaves, attacking both older and new growth. Heart-shaped! I put some broken leaves in a vase as it was a shame to waste them. Although ti plants represent only a small portion of the potted foliage plant product mix, they are among the most colorful foliage plants. Removing debris, opening up thick bushes with low-hanging branches, and removing water sources will make the lizards' stay in the garden much less comfortable. Then add 3 cups of castor oil to it and mix well. Lawn Root Moisturizer-32 oz. Many plants are enjoyed by Caterpillars, including roses, hydrangeas, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and cabbage. Their signatures are the holes they leave behind in the stems of woody plants such as trees and shrubs. We suggest that you simply contact an expert on the matter at your local plant nursery. Chicken wire also discourages digging. Pour a generous portion of this solution under each bush. Posted on Last updated: February 26, 2023, 10 Shrubs with Blue Colored Berries Best List 2023, What is Eating my Broccoli Leaves? The soil needs to be kept considerably moist, without allowing the roots to become soggy. Here's a detailed look at each of theses Hawaiian plants: The ti leaf comes from the ti plant (this plant is called ki in Hawaiian). "text": "Hawaiian Ti plants are perennials, meaning that they live more than two years." This is it! Another insect that eats leaves in gardens and yards is sawfly larvae. "acceptedAnswer": { Luau leaf is used to make, Ti leaf is used to cover the imu (underground oven) when preparing. Ti's are known to attract spider mites.. What about leaves? Don't overwater. Because of this, its best to try other pest removal methods before you spray your plants. This may be a nice break from your higher-maintenance flowering plants. Temperature 6. Those colors that you see presented on the foliage can be a bit sensitive to the amount of sun that they get, however, so be mindful. The onslaught slowed, then stopped. Beneficial nematodes such as amblyseius swirskii, cryptolaemus montrouzieri, steinernema carpocapsae can also be used. The most obvious signature is holes in corms that hug the surface of the ground in plants such as iris. If grasshoppers have been feeding on your plants, theyll usually leave behind ragged holes. Thats astounding! Treat fungus gnats by letting the top 3 to 4 inches of soil dry out before watering, which will kill off larvae . Ti plant will help it from becoming too tall for your home. The first step, Hudson says, is to understand that there is an almost countless number of creeping, crawling, slithering and flying insects that inevitably can and will show up in any home landscape. Shiny, metallic Japanese Beetles feed on flowers and leaves. I want to get this right. This is just one of the methods that individuals use to propagate their Hawaiian Ti plant. They do most of their feeding at night. Rabbits, rats, and opossums will carry large chunks closer to the ground. Move your plant to a location where there is less direct sunlight. Stem cuttings and plant division are our preferred methods of copying your beloved Cordyline fruticosa. Most tree services do an unethical pruning that permanently maimed the tree, puts it into shock and then requires them to come back every year or so to trim the weak shoots that sprout from the middle of boughs. He divides insects that attack ornamentals into five groups, which he puts in laymans terms. Dog DID get into some mouse poison inexplicably in a snowbank last season, so we are looking to end use of THAT. What's eating my veggie leaves? What has worked for others? Among a few of its names are the Baby Doll, Ti Leaf, and the Good Luck plant. Plants are actually able to tell you whats wrong, as long as you know what you are looking at. If they can be scraped off, it sounds like scale. Hornworms often grow up to 10 cm (4 inches) long and as fat as your finger. I want to modify it to accommodate the run off issue but I've decided there's no point to the project if it won't be my oasis so taxes & insurance won't deter me from an in ground pool. I have NEEM oil, but have been a bit scared to use it, but I suppose I can be careful (hate pesticides). Something is eating my eggplant leaves!! Caterpillars. The next step up from there, Sparks says, is pyrethroid insecticides, which are synthetic and not organic. Chipmunks can't resist. This will manifest in several catastrophes such as the leaves losing their color or the plant dying altogether. Not only do they eat leaves and vegetables, but they trample other plants in your garden. Aphids, Thrips, Spider Mites, and Whiteflies, 12 Plants That Repel Unwanted Insects (Including Mosquitoes), How to Attract Bug-Eating Birds to Your Garden, Beneficial Insects: Meet the Bugs That Will Help Your Garden, Invasive Species: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Beneficial Insects: How to Attract Good Bugs to Your Garden, 12 Sustainable Ways to Keep Deer Out of Your Garden, 8 Natural & Homemade Insecticides: Save Your Garden Without Killing the Earth, Growing Guide: How to Grow and Harvest Fresh Kale. When implementing a schedule, choose to water less frequently with more water at once. Typically, they chew irregular holes along leaf edges or inside the leaf blade. The stickiness will impede their ability to move and the film left by the soapy water will kill sawflies by means of suffocation. Pests can destroy plants if you dont take action. The canes should be put on their side and buried under the top layer of soil. The fertilizer that you choose should be high in nitrogen and diluted to about half of its intended strength. Ti Leaf - The leaf of the ti plant. Does foliage look pale in color? Could someone please help me identify the variegation on my monstera. Would they survive shipping to NC? What is eating my plant leaves? Sawflies may leave behind webs, or tiny larvae called gall. Symptoms of Phyllosticta leaf spot include the appearance of tan spots on older leaves. By using our website, you agree to our, Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License, Safer Home Ant & Crawling Insect Killer Diatomaceous Earth, Safer Brand Critter Ridder Animal Repellent Granules - OMRI Listed for Organic Use, Safer Brand 32 oz Ready-To-Use End ALL Insect Killer, Safer Brand 3-in-1 32oz Ready-to-Use Garden Spray OMRI Listed for Organic Use, What to Look for When Choosing Home Insect Control Products. It seems as though I have three suspects (that are not ME!) 5 Worst Reasons Why Tomatoes Are Not Flowering. As some larvae feed on plants, they create irregular holes that do not extend all the way through a leaf. Weve got you covered! Because borers most often attack plants under stress, the best offense is a good defense keep plants as healthy as possible by avoiding stresses such as not watering during droughts or accidentally wounding plants while pruning, which can invite attack from clear-wing moths. There are no effective treatments after borers are in the plant. It's used mainly in two essential Hawaiian dishes: Lau lau post-steaming, ready to eat. Use insecticidal soap and neem oil to prevent insects from eating plant leaves. Slugs and Snails also eat Tulip foliage. Inspect your plants and look for signs that might tell you what type of pest youre dealing with, such as droppings, insect larvae, or eggs. July 26, 2022 A native of Hawaii, the "Ti Plant" (Cordyline fruticosa) is a tropical woody plant with vibrant palm-like leaves. Make sure soil is well drained. The larvae are lawn Grubs. One word of caution. Hawaiian Ti Care TI CARE GUIDE Long and skinny. Bring the tropical spirit of Hawaii to a mainland garden for a summer or even longer, Witness its glorious spectacle in early spring, but this specimen tree brings other delightful visuals to a garden too, Easygoing and natural with an exotic allure, rooms designed with a tropical feel exude warmth and graciousness, Easy to grow and maintain, these showy, colorful plants are perfect for beginning gardeners, Bring unbeatable vibrancy to a garden or wall with this unfussy and trainable shrub packed with colorful bracts, It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. If this doesnt fix the problem, move on to adjusting the watering schedule. Spring leaf-eaters gardeners should know. One easy method is to hang CDs to sway and glitter in the sunlight. They use this material to line the cells in which they lay eggs. Insects that Like to Eat Eggplant. Caterpillars, Inch worms, and cabbage loopers Crickets Grasshoppers More grasshopper damage Slugs or snails Making leis! If your plant has seen a lot of growth, pruning leaves can improve air circulation around the plant. You dont want the roots to sit in water. Here's a tip when baiting outdoors: place bait inside a T-shaped piece of plastic plumbing pipe where it will be protected from the rain and from inquisitive dogs and cats. If I can get my husband and son to carry it outside, I will. What's the difference? The signature for rabbits, on the other hand, is a stem bitten off cleanly at a 45-degree angle. Do not place the plant near anything that gives out heat. Rabbits leave neatly clipped stems and prefer new, tender growth, including stems, growing tips and leaves. Cuttings In Water How To Care For Your Ti Plants "It is one of the few organic products that has the efficacy of the non-organic products," Sparks says. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. However, do not apply it if your plants are in their blooming cycle, as this product can kill beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. They have legs unlike standard worms. Water once every 7 days and provide a humidity between 40-60%. A couple of direct sunlight (3-4 hours) in the morning is fine. Husband live traps skunks, woodchucks, etc. Houzz utilizza cookie e tecnologie simili per personalizzare la mia esperienza, fornire contenuti per me rilevanti e migliorare i prodotti e i servizi di Houzz. As for the spider..Spider mites are tiny..I've never seen mites as large as fleas, so I'm assuming what you're seeing is a house spider..Again, if this plant was grown outdoors, spiders will move in pot. Voles typically chew on both the leaves and stems of seedlings. Come late Spring, my taro starts shooting up I freeze a lot of cooked leaves, but use my fresh for laulau all summer! The signature of these sucking insects is yellow, curling, and distorted leaves or a black growth on the leaf surface. Some types, known as Cutworms, are bugs that eat plants through seedling stems at soil level, causing plants to keel over. They can be picked and disposed of or removed by using a garden hose to spray them off without damaging the plant. For that reason, he implores homeowners to enjoy most insects as "backyard wildlife" an idea he admits with a chuckle that he has been struggling to sell for 30 years as a way of not killing the "good guys." Don't confuse the Ti with the Dracaena. } Copyright 2023 bioadvanced.com All Right Reserved. They are light green with spots and strips down their side and are aptly named for their protruding horn on their back end. Rabbits typically eat entire leaves rather than take a bite out of a plant. Is the Hawaiian Ti Plant poisonous to dogs? For the first few years, expect to transfer your Hawaiian Ti plant to a new dwelling space every two years or so. I wanted to figure this out and protect my other tomato plants from this fate. Posso rifiutare i cookie non necessari cliccando su "Imposta le preferenze". The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. That's where all pests leave a telltale signature. Posted on Published: October 12, 2019- Last updated: January 16, 2020, Homepage Places to Eat in Hawaii Ti Leaf Versus Luau Leaf. Control plans depend on your goals and the size of your operation, Hudson says. Any environment lower than 15 degrees Celsius can potentially damage the overall state of your Hawaiian Ti plant. Like slugs, snails leave behind slime trails, usually on the surfaces of leaves. Read more about what is eating plant leaves at night. Avoid bright direct light as it might scorch the leaves. Your tomato stems are being eaten by some insects such as cutworms, stem borer, earwigs, or earworms. Put it in the bathtub or out side and soak every inch with neem oil spray, keep it out of direct sun for a few days afterwards, and I usually do it again for good measure. The leaves from the plant (which is the ti leaf) is the part that we use for cooking. Hi Carla, Most posts in this discussion are two yrs old so hopefully you're evolving towards your modern / tropical style. Trees are our only protection against air pollution and are natural swamp coolers - and they keep temperatures down locally. The indoor plant is beautiful with healthy leaves as of right now. One of the best ways to protect your plants from squirrels and other critters is to create a cylindrical fence out of chicken wire. Slugs and snails eat large, irregular holes in plant leaves. Just remember that you can eat (cooked) luau leaves, but you can never ever eat ti leaves. I have no idea what - I looked under the leaves nothing. These leaves are 3-5 inches wide and 1-2 feet long. , indirect sunlight needs to pass through another object first. When deer are present, you will see hoof prints in soft soil and lawn. They have a thick stem running down the center and thinner veins running across horizontally. Soil 3. I will look into a landscape architect. She was very lucky in that we got most away from her and got her to vet quickly--we discovered that new formulations (Tomcat's at least) are nerve poisons, not blood thinners, so all vet could do was force vomiting, give her activated charcoal, etc. Slugs typically chew small to medium-sized holes in leaves. There are several types of Sawflies. W/mite infestation, leaves look a mottled/pale yellow. A few include: The luau leaf is the leaf that comes from the taro plant (taro is called kalo in Hawaiian). Once a cat has ingested the leaves of the Baby Doll ti, it will develop poisoning symptoms. { In modern times, the cultural uses are many. A proper pruning by a good arborist who makes the cuts himself will save you money - you'll only have to re-prune every 5-7 years. Sorry to say that we have also had to control a huge population of chipmunks, which were beginning to get into walls. Deer lack upper incisors, so they bite foliage and tear it free, creating jagged edges. Joined Jun 8, 2020 Messages 6 Reaction score 3 Country. When I received it I saw a spider crawl across the soil and back into the dirt. "name": "Is the Hawaiian Ti Plant poisonous to dogs? Do your research; the ISA arborists are harder to find. Need help with front yard. Its important to let the plant dry out between sessions, just not too much. Hawaiian Ti plants grow well in well-draining soil. Your first instinct is likely to nuke everything with chemical pesticides. Caterpillars usually leave large holes in the leaves of the plants they feed on. Hawaiian Ti plants are perennials, meaning that they live more than two years. Tom Oder is a writer, editor, and communication expert who specializes in sustainability and the environment with a sweet spot for urban agriculture. Still, harmless or not, who wants 'pedes in soil? Many garden pests love munching on plants and are especially fond of fruits and vegetables. Use our quick guide to identify the pest eating your plant and what solution would be best to keep that bug away from destroying your garden. Feel free to use any soil type as long as there are drainage holes! The most infamous of ant activity is the farming of aphids. Whatever I use on the Ti Plant, I would also like to use on the unidentified Tropical (that grew a new mysterious hole in it) and my Anthuriums. Once you learn the signs of common lawn and garden pests, you will know if you are up against a furry critter or a slimy Snail. Japanese beetles are easily recognized by their metallic green bodies which are accented on either side by white tufts of hair and shiny bronze wing covers. It sounds like whomever grew this plant before you did so outdoors. The general rule of thumb is that you can safely clip back any of the stalks as long as it is six inches from the top of the soil. ", If you plant any more trees, be sure to hire an ISA certified arborist that actually climbs up in the trees and knows how to thin out the branches rather than amputating them in the middle of the branch as was done to these trees. Since you rarely see the pest that is eating your plants, you often have to decide upon a treatment by observing the damage done. Soaps and oils, however, do not have a residual effect. They feed on the dahlia plant's sap, however they damage the plant leaves in the process. In practical terms, ti plant is used to make dyes and is grown for ornamentation. We recommend researching which bug youre dealing with and then proceeding to use water to hose off any potential eggs. Since snails hibernate during the winter, they feed more heavily at the end of summer and fall. 2 drops of dishsoap per mister of water. Good luck with your design. "@type": "Question", As well as companion planting. It has vitamin A, B, C, along with iron and calcium. Make sure your soil drains well and keep waterways clear. The entire luau leaf (including the stem) is edible, but you must cook it before eating. You may remove insects off the plant by hand and drop them into soapy water if you can detect them in motion. Invasive Spotted Lanternflies Keep Hitchhiking in the US, What You Need to Know About Beneficial Bugs, Neonicotinoids: What Gardeners Need to Know, How to Humanely Keep Wildlife Out of the Garden, These Wild Animals Can Help Guard Your Garden. Sucking insects are the majority of garden pests. Additional homemade deer controls, other than growing what they won't eat, include shaving off slices of bath soaps and spreading them around the garden or placing human hair among your plants. Potting 5. Well also list out a few additional insects below to keep an eye out for that could hurt your plants leaves. Ti leaf is used to sprinkle holy water for blessings. 2. Many ppl use Neem Oil.. Preparing a lau lau bundle with luau (taro) leaves. The pests that could be eating your tomato plants at night include snails and slugs, hornworms, leaf-cutting bees, cutworms, Colorado Potato Beetle, rabbits, and deer. Reply. But they also like to eat soft fruits (peaches, apricots, berries) and new growth on plants. Also, I saw a gnat emerge when I took the plant out of the pot to inspect the roots and look for pests. An important point with any insecticide is to check the package label to be sure the plant you want to treat is covered by that product, Sparks says. Animals eating plant leaves at night are beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs, and caterpillars, Mexican bean beetles, flea beetles, Japanese beetles, and the tarnished plant bug and slugs. (I think woodpeckers are spooked by fast-moving light reflections--like shadow of a hawk?) "acceptedAnswer": { Pests include caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles. Hope this gets your creativity flowing. Another deer signature, if the ground is soft, is hoof prints. You can pick them off and dispose of them as with ornamentals or use a commercially available organic spray containing Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a naturally occurring bacterium that is fatal to feeding caterpillars. How to Prevent Pest Infestations in Mint Naturally? Aphids 5. Many Caterpillars boast camouflage that allows them to blend in with the leaves they are eating. The cooked leaf is edible. It's the gardening version of scanning the overnight Twitter news feeds or catching the morning news on TV. Here are the most common culprits who are eating your leaves and what you can do about it. You will recognize their feeding as irregular holes in the leaves. The cooked leaf is edible. Although grasshoppers are active during the day, they also feed at night. These are the most difficult insects for homeowners to deal with on edibles, Sparks says. This article will look at everything you need to know about the Hawaiian Ti care indoors so that it can bring your home good luck! What kind of insect eats plant leaves? Or from realizing that flower buds you've been waiting to open are completely gone? If you can successfully identify the pest targeting your plants, you can do more to keep your plants safe. These include overwatering, too much sunlight, or an excess of warm temperatures. How Can I Heal a Plant With Holes In Its Leaves? 5 Worst Critters. It's a shame that someone killed those two beautiful trees with improper pruning techniques / tree topping. Dietary deficiencies: Some cats will eat their cat litter if they're anemic, Plotnick says.