Question
My impatients are being eaten at night, one plant at a time.  The pest devours the plant right down to the dirt, leaving only roots.  The plants are in individual pots and each morning another plant is missing.  We have seen geckos in the area.  We are in Fort Worth Texas.  All the impatients are now gone and the pest is now eating the elephant ears, again, one plant per night.  No bugs are seen on the plant and no chewing marks prior to the devastation.  The hanging baskets (4) were destroyed in one night; and then 2nights later the last plant in hanging baskets were eaten.

Answer
Hi Iris,

My first guess is a lone deer. I don't know what else would have enough reach to get the hanging baskets. Deer will stand up on their hind legs to reach high plants. Odd it was just taking one a night. Look around the ground for hoof prints in the area.  There are other less likely possibilities... including a practical joker...  so watch for foot or paw prints as well. My second guess would be a woodrat. I've seen woodrats harvest plants for nesting material. They can climb and tracks are not easily noticed. They might have a nest under your porch or near by.  If it is a small critter use a live cage trap. Bait it with a piece of apple and set it up off the ground so a skunk won't get in it by accident. What ever it is can climb and skunk don't climb well. If it is deer, I make electronic deterrents that will keep them away.

http://qawebsites.com

Dan