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Container Gardening

ANTS in the cement planter!

17 years ago

In my daily rounds to see 'what's up' in my various spaces, I check the cement planter over in the dappled shade, which houses a small double-impatien plant. It needs water. Ok, but for whatever reason, I feel the need to check to make sure that the whole THING is dry (because I haven't had a chance to hit up the DH for those drainage holes like we talked about here a week or so back, so maybe just the top is dry).

The thing is chock FULL of small reddish-orange ants, and they're going to town with whatever food source or whatever-it-is they're hauling around...little whitish specks of 'stuff' in and around the rootball.

What gives, and will the drain-holes cure this, or is it the plant that's the problem...and will they eventually kill it?

TIA

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Comments (6)

utsharpie
17 years ago
im not up to par on ant species but i will say they were a primary pollinator in my greenhouse this fall, but they were a small black variety that didnt attack the fruit.

depends on the species, but sounds like the dreaded texas fire ants that ravage lawns down here with there mounds. who knows though
cave76
17 years ago
Unless you're against killing ants, I'd lay Grant Ant Stakes on the soil.
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I have a concrete planter, it's about 2'x2' and actually retains water quite well, surprisingly. You could make an olla or two, place the top of the olla at soil level then make sure the olla is filled Friday before you leave for the weekend. Also, plant drought tolerant plants. I can share some cuttings with you if you are interested. These olla's are have been placed too tall, they should be level with the soil. I hit solid clay at the bottom of the raised beds. Google 'olla gardening'. You can buy more fancy ones but these are just unglazed clay pots, two pots siliconed together, a stopper in the bottom one's drainage hole, cover the top with something to prevent evaporation. Works GREAT. This tall squiggly plant is pedilanthus macrocarpus and very easy to propagate. This is the one I can send you cuttings of if you like. A large skyscraper office in downtown Phoenix has this plant in two large cement planters at their front entrance. It blooms and hummingbirds love it. HTH. Mary
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No need to dump the soil or kill them. They won't harm your plants. When I find them in large containers left out all winter like you did, I just stir up the potting mix and leave them overnight. They usually leave, taking their eggs (or whatever they're called) and move somewhere else. You don't indicate where you live. If they are fire ants, you might need to be more aggressive in dealing with them. In the Midwest where I live, we don't have them.
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mmqchdygg
Original Author
17 years ago
They're really doing a number in there; I think I'll take the plant out and put it in another container for a little while to see if it's the cement they're attracted to...EXCEPT...the planter sat empty for 3 years in a primary location in my garden (at the end of a stone wall), and didn't get anything in it...but maybe it's the combo of plant/cement that's just nice & warm for them. Hard to tell. Will repot to see what happens.

No fire ants up here in NH- thank goodness.
kathi_mdgd
17 years ago
We have what sounds like the same kind of ants in S.Calif.We call them sweet ants(nothing sweet about them imo).Last year they got into one of my pots like that.I read somewhere to make up a solution of dish liquid and water and immerse the plant in it,and to water it with the same solution.So i got a big tub and did just thatI let it sit there for about an hour,then i took it out and drenched it with clean clear water,it took care of the problem for me.Try it and see if it works.Didn't hurt my plant at all.
Kathi
susanzone5 (NY)
17 years ago
Those white things they're dragging around are eggs...babies.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
You could place one boric acid laced ant bait in the container and the whole nest would be gone in a few hours. Terro is one name brand, but others make similiar baits. Works stunningly well.

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