I love the wrens....they are such happy,and curious little birds. BUT also very frustrating they seem to always pick the strangest/worst places to nest. Once again my hot pink epi has been transformed into the birdie nursery. It's got one open bloom and several buds so I check it everyday. Yesterday AM...no nest....yesterday around dusk two very busy wrens building a nest. (Epi is right outside a window next to where I sit on the couch) This AM...no eggs, but more adding of nesting goodies. Just went to check and still no eggs. SOOOOOO should I remove the nest from the pot before there are eggs or wait and see if any are laid. The plant will need to be watered before any babies fledge if any are hatched if eggs are laid. Granted, it will get rained on, but that's not the same as me hitting it with the hose Last year I didn't realize there was a nest built until I saw the eggs.

I would definitely remove the nest before any eggs are laid and maybe take the cactus away from the wrens for a couple days. If you could maybe put the nest in a similar container and set it close to the old nest spot.

I think the Epi is an orchid. Just an FYI.

Epiphyllum is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family

probably best just to move the plant for a couple days until they move on to a new spot

Melli, That does get a bit confusing...especially for us that grow both Epidendrum and Epiphyllum, such as me. We need to be careful with those abbreviations. The common name of "orchid cactus" just makes matters worse.

@gingin is the plant an Epidendrum (orchid) or an Epiphyllum (epicactus) just for clarity.

The wrens might be nesting in it repeatedly because it affords good protection from cats and raccoons (if it is a cactus, it has thorns). But I'll bet you don't want to move it since it's probably big, and leggy and prickly.

Being a cactus or an orchid, it probably won't mind if you only water parts of it - they feed and get water through the stems as well as from the roots. So if you can get by with just spraying the stems until the wrens are finished their nesting operation, that would be the best thing.

Here are two pictures of the plant from 3 years ago....the "ghost plant" in the pot with it has since been eaten by squirrels and or died. Pic of nest still on camera.

So Elaine, you suggest leaving the nest and just spray the plant when/if eggs are laid and babies hatch. I rather like that idea as the parents have worked so hard on the nest and it is where I can watch all the goings on Just checked again...still no eggs...even stuck my finger in to feel

Absolutely. It's a cactus, after all. It can probably go weeks without water in a pinch, but if you "rain" on it selectively and don't douse the babies in the nest I'm sure it will be fine. Keep your distance as much as you can.

Other wrens surely build nests where the rain would get them wet. So even if you do get it a little wet it should not hurt.

The wrens that hang out in my yard have built nests under the "hat" on the propane tank, in the grass catcher attachment for the mower, in the middle of open screw boxes while the screen room was being built, in assorted pots, not just the epi, in a wicker basket hanging on the patio waiting for a plant which had to wait on the wrens and my favorite place was on the ledge of the bathroom window....located in the shower area. It was such fun to take a shower "with the wrens" when they fed the kids. Crazy, curious, endearing and frustrating little birds

I'm with ya there. We have a large shop/garage out back and if we dare to leave the doors open for any length of time at all, the wrens are in there and we have to chase them out (because it's usually closed up and they'll get shut in). Not an easy task since the ceiling is over 20ft. high at the peak.

We did find a dead one, one time that we didn't notice until it was too late.

Wrens are so darn persistent. Wrens build fake nests in several spots, and then have their actual nest in a hidden area, to avoid predators. They are fast nest builders too, less than a day. And it's a very messy unorganized nest, as opposed to say, a bluebird. I've never actually seen wren eggs in any of the nests, so I remove them ASAP. Over and over.......

When I checked this morning I saw 4 eggs

I have a cactus like that one and I have never been so lucky to have wrens in it. Haven't put my cactus outdoors yet because the nights have still be going down in the 40's.

House wrens are nest predators on bluebirds. just sayin..
I've never had house wrens in my Epiphyllum or any potted plants, but I do have a couple of gourds that they fill up with sticks.

Given Ginger's location, she probably has Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus.) They are not known to be nest predators.

House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) are the nest predators but their breeding territory is farther north.

the eggs colors are that of carolina wrens not house wrens

Oh, sorry, didn't know those details, thanks!

I didn't know, either! I've only seen Carolina Wrens, but I'm also in Florida like Ginger. I'm glad to know they're not the bad ones because I kind of like the little things. Lots of gumption. And loud!