Ants in my pants (pot)!!!
paradiseprincess51
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
jedobaTX9b
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Ants nesting IN my orchid pot media
Comments (13)The previous post needs to be ignored. No doubt there are quality symbiotic ant/plant relationships. The article goes on about the varied plant life that enjoy ants. But there is nothing about the fact that not any ant species is a friend. Some are neither friend or foe and could be neutral. But there are ants that will cause tremendous damage. I've been invaded by several species of invasive non domestic ants. White footed asian, Bahamian crazy ants and others. Came here through the port of Miami. Around 100 miles away. Some ants are excellent farmers. They bring immobile sucking bugs then eat the secretions. Very harmful to the orchids and a lot more. The right ants in the right place are fine. But in this modern world of rapid cargo transportation, invasive and harmful plants, animals, and bugs is a big problem getting bigger....See Morehelp!!!! ants inside my hibiscus tree pot!!
Comments (5)Hi Cele, Did you manage to sort the ants problem? I also have the same problem but they are really tiny microscopic ants and get inside the calyx. I've noticed them creeping in at night and the early morning too. I sprayed garlic spray neem oil spray but they still manage to come around no matter how many I kill. I have been hand pollinating the flowers but the ovary just doesnt mature. I wonder if these microscopic ants are preventing seed formation....See MoreAnts in my pants...sorry Pots!
Comments (4)Hi David, a half hour or so soak in a solution of one part orange oil based cleaner and three parts water should take care of anything living in that soil. My understanding is that houseplants, as opposed to plants in the garden, do not really benefit much from organisms living in their soil. HTH...See MoreAnts in My Orange Pot!!!
Comments (4)Is this tree potted or in the ground? Either way, they will usually always "bring friends" (often aphids and sometimes scale or mealy bugs). The DE would theoretically work but it will take time and IMHO completely dusting the tree with it (beyond just the soil) has a risk that the stuff gets airborne and you end up breathing it in (which you definitely don't want to do). If potted and depending on the size of the pot, you might be able to just submerge the pot as far up to the rim as you can, in a large muck bucket, and let it sit for awhile to force them out, and then pull the plant out and allow the pot media to drain fully. In the past I have also used a solution of sugar-water/borax (you can search for the recipe on the web) and baited with cotton balls near areas of activity (make sure that you don't have it baited so much that excessive boron is leached into the soil). The scout ants would eventually take the concoction back to the queen and that will basically begin to kill the colony. The process might also take a few weeks but it also helps to ensure that the queen is dead. The most drastic method might also be to repot and be done with it! Again...depends on whether you are talking about a container plant (and how big) or in the ground....See MoreMarie Tran
6 years agoAgartta
6 years agoparadiseprincess51
6 years agogreenclaws UK, Zone 8a
6 years agoAgartta
6 years agokimivu
6 years agoparadiseprincess51
6 years agorcharles_gw (Canada)
6 years agoparadiseprincess51
6 years agoAgartta
6 years agoJohn
6 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNHang 'Em or Hide 'Em: 10 Stylish Ways to Store Pots and Pans
Keep cookware neat and at the ready with racks, drawers and creative storage solutions
Full StoryCONTAINER GARDENSSolve Your Garden Border Dilemmas With Planted Pots
Set your containers free from the patio — placed among plantings in the ground, they fill unsightly gaps, let you experiment and more
Full StorySUMMER GARDENINGHow to Water and Refresh Your Potted Plants Over the Summer
Keep container gardens looking lush by cooling them down when temperatures rise and by giving them a seasonal spruce-up
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGBid Bad Garden Bugs Goodbye and Usher In the Good
Give ants their marching orders and send mosquitoes moseying, while creating a garden that draws pollinators and helpful eaters
Full StoryHOLIDAYSCelebrate Fall With 9 Nature-Themed Outdoor Decorations
Brighten up your landscape with strategically placed pumpkins, pots of fall flowers and more
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGHow to Clean Your Cookware So It Lasts
Avoid damage during everyday cleaning and stain scrubbing, with these tips for pots and pans made of popular materials
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDHow to Grow Vegetables in Containers
Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENS12 Essential Herbs for Your Edible Garden
Make home cooking and drinks even better with herbs plucked from your own backyard or windowsill pot
Full StoryTREES10 Top Trees to Grow in Containers
These container-friendly trees make great specimens for pots on the patio or marking an entrance
Full StoryLIFESimple Pleasures: A Room of Your Own
Free up space for your own creative or meditative pursuits, and your dreams may have freer rein too
Full Story
rcharles_gw (Canada)