Ants/insects on my plants...

16 years ago

I have ant mounds in my potted plants...will this hurt them? Should I put some kind of ant killer in there? It doesn't seem like they will hurt anything.

And...I have some kind of tiny yellow insects that don't seem to move very much. Their legs look black and they can't be much bigger than the lead tip of a pencil. What are these and will they hurt my plants?!

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Comments (9)

missinformation
16 years ago
Are they aphids? If so, you might see ants moving around near them. They "milk" aphids for the sweet stuff they release. I think it's called honey dew.

A sprinkle of beneficial nematodes in the potted plants would wipe out the ant mounds.
Lee3304
16 years ago
My zinnias have been broken off at the ground, tall sunflower have been twisted and hang limp. My natives, the blue muhly is lying flat and the echinacea is falling every which way. What does one do? Especially the natives? Just take them out of the ground and leave a few? That is if working in a steamy garden between rain showers is what is necessary. I havent been online here for quite a while due to computer problems, but it sure is wonderful to come back and read whats going on the garden world.
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momofjandj
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, there were ants around them! Will the aphids hurt my plant(s)? How do I get rid of them?
missinformation
16 years ago
Depends on the plant - I usually just leave them alone, but you can take a powerful sprayer attachment and blow them away with water a lot of times. If you feel like spending some money and entertaining your kids, get some ladybugs and put a few of them at the base of each plant in the evening. They will crawl upwards, find the aphids and begin to feast in a not-so-ladylike manner.
honeybunny2 Fox
16 years ago
I was at the coast all week, we had over 12 inches of rain while I was down. The ants started making mounds on top of my dayliles. Thursday I noticed one daylily had a mount on top of it. Friday I noticed another, my husband just put down 36 million beneficial nematodes 6 days before, but just to make sure I got some of the ant and grub flakes that come in the hugh bags, and put on top of the mounds. Saturday, I checked it did not work, it may take a few days for it to work, but they had completely covered two more dayliles and the yard had mounds as large as 3 ft long. I am covered with ant bites. I finally went to Wal-Mart last night and got some of the ortho ant killer, and sprinkled on my dayliles before I left today. Ants will kill anything if they get into it, they have destroyed many of my plants including 3 hugh palm trees. I do not know how long before the nematodes go into action, I could not wait, these ants were to aggressive. I hope I did not hurt the nematodes by doing this. Barbra
missinformation
16 years ago
Pesticides will also kill your nematodes. You need to give them time to get in there and destroy the mound.
mikeandbarb
16 years ago
I have ants in my pots eavery year. Have you tried used coffee grounds? I've read it work but have not tried it yet.

Barb
missinformation
16 years ago
Something we tried once that seemed to work (at least the mound quickly disappeared) was to stir some dry active yeast into a little molasses dilutd with water, and pour it in a circle around the mound. Not sure if this is what actually happens, but the idea is that they will rush the yummy sweet stuff to the queen, and when the yeast begins to give off CO2, she'll explode.
momofjandj
Original Author
16 years ago
missinformation...I'm a little too anxious to use nematodes right now. They are everywhere and on our patio so I don't want them biting my babies! As far as the yeast concoction, sounds scary but hey, they don't play fair, right?!
mikeandbarb...haven't tried coffee grounds but my DH only drinks the strongest of Starbucks coffee. If any coffee would kill them, that would be it! LOL
I guess I'll just spread some granules in the pot and hopefully it won't kill my plants...