Ants in My Plants! - Page 2

Bipetual · June 20, 2017

Gorbelly, I'll continue to keep an eye on them, then. Thanks a lot for all the advice!

Dewayne mater · June 20, 2017

I've got aphid farming ants on my pepper plants. Green aphids are abundant. Ladybugs have discovered the aphids and several lady bugs are eating aphids at a good clip. For now we have nature battling it out and the plants seem to be weathering it ok, so, I'm leaving them to their own devices. However, that can get out of balance quickly and if so, spraying plants is essential. I've tried several different ant treatments outside the raised bed that are getting in, but, so far, the ants seem to ignore the treatments.

Bipetual · June 20, 2017

Dewayne, I agree, I will spray if I see an increase in aphids.

After reading an article online, I really saturated the pots with water, which was supposed to make the ants leave, which it didn't.

Then I wrapped landscape fabric over the bottom of the pots. I wasn't sure what would happen. A day later a line of ants had tunnelled their way out the top of the pot carrying little oval shaped white things, which I think were pupae, and disappeared between the planks of the deck. So the ants appear to have relocated voluntarily for now.

I may try the Amdro at some point, but since my dog is always coming in and out over the deck it kind of complicates where I can leave cornmeal-based poison.

Rockporter · June 20, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bipetual

Dewayne, I agree, I will spray if I see an increase in aphids.

After reading an article online, I really saturated the pots with water, which was supposed to make the ants leave, which it didn't.

Then I wrapped landscape fabric over the bottom of the pots. I wasn't sure what would happen. A day later a line of ants had tunnelled their way out the top of the pot carrying little oval shaped white things, which I think were pupae, and disappeared between the planks of the deck. So the ants appear to have relocated voluntarily for now.

I may try the Amdro at some point, but since my dog is always coming in and out over the deck it kind of complicates where I can leave cornmeal-based poison.

Put the Amdro between the planks of your deck and let them fall down to the ants.

Starlight · June 21, 2017

I get ants all the time in pots and in the ground. I just use that Sunflower brand of quick grits. I sprinkle all over the top of pot and down on ground around the base of pot and let the ants eat for several hours. When I see most of the food gone, then I water the heck out of the pot or mound. Usually kills them all off in a day or two. If the infestation is really heavy it may take a second dose of grits to get rid of the last of them. The grits a cheap and effective way to get rid of them with out chems. If a couple of doses of grits doesn't do the trick then I would use some heavy treatment.

Rockporter · June 21, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

I get ants all the time in pots and in the ground. I just use that Sunflower brand of quick grits.

Great idea!

gorbelly · June 21, 2017

Grits don't harm ants. That's a myth. I'm guessing the repeated flooding is what's making the ants go away.

Bipetual · June 21, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockporter

Put the Amdro between the planks of your deck and let them fall down to the ants.

Glad I have you guys to do my thinking for me.

Starlight, thanks for the suggestion.

Rockporter · June 21, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bipetual

Glad I have you guys to do my thinking for me.

LOL, yeah just use a little brush if you have to. They'll think heaven just sent them food, lol.

loulac · June 22, 2017

Ants can be a nuisance. They carrry aphids everywhere on artichokes, fruit trees and take away carrot seeds. If I can find the nest a pan of boiling water does the job without polluting anything. Glu on a strip of paper round the tree trunk is effective if no branch can touch a wall, fence or another tree. I can use poison, only as a last resort.

gorbelly · June 22, 2017

Ant digestion
and why grits can't kill ants as many people claim.

Grits, grain meal, etc. are often used as a carrier for ant poison. This is probably why this myth started.

Starlight · June 22, 2017

Interesting read. Now I know the grits doesn't work on carpenter ants, my lizards eat the heck out of them. The grits no good for fire ants either, but the small black/brown ones, it works on them.

I been using grits for years and have good success as I don't use chems around the food plants.

Now if I get some carpenter ants built up colonies and I want a quick kill, I'll use a can of Eliminator on flowering plants. It's 1.88 at Walmart and kills ants and roaches in an instant. Using the Elimator, I can just do spot killing when and where needed without poisoning my beneficials.

gorbelly · June 22, 2017

The carpenter ants are used as an example because they can consume larger particles than many other ants.

It will work even less well on the smaller ants.

I suspect nest disturbance is what's making the ants go away. Grits definitely do not kill ants.

Rockporter · June 22, 2017

This is another one of those threads with a great title. Each time I see the title I think it says, "Ants in my PANTS", lol.

June 22, 2017	#29
Rockporter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas Coastal Bend Posts: 3,205	This is another one of those threads with a great title. Each time I see the title I think it says, "Ants in my PANTS", lol. __________________ In the spring at the end of the day you should smell like dirt ~Margaret Atwood~

June 20, 2017	#16
Bipetual Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Illinois, zone 5a Posts: 579	Gorbelly, I'll continue to keep an eye on them, then. Thanks a lot for all the advice!

June 20, 2017	#17
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	I've got aphid farming ants on my pepper plants. Green aphids are abundant. Ladybugs have discovered the aphids and several lady bugs are eating aphids at a good clip. For now we have nature battling it out and the plants seem to be weathering it ok, so, I'm leaving them to their own devices. However, that can get out of balance quickly and if so, spraying plants is essential. I've tried several different ant treatments outside the raised bed that are getting in, but, so far, the ants seem to ignore the treatments.

June 21, 2017	#20
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	I get ants all the time in pots and in the ground. I just use that Sunflower brand of quick grits. I sprinkle all over the top of pot and down on ground around the base of pot and let the ants eat for several hours. When I see most of the food gone, then I water the heck out of the pot or mound. Usually kills them all off in a day or two. If the infestation is really heavy it may take a second dose of grits to get rid of the last of them. The grits a cheap and effective way to get rid of them with out chems. If a couple of doses of grits doesn't do the trick then I would use some heavy treatment.

June 21, 2017	#22
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	Grits don't harm ants. That's a myth. I'm guessing the repeated flooding is what's making the ants go away.

June 22, 2017	#25
loulac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France Posts: 554	Ants can be a nuisance. They carrry aphids everywhere on artichokes, fruit trees and take away carrot seeds. If I can find the nest a pan of boiling water does the job without polluting anything. Glu on a strip of paper round the tree trunk is effective if no branch can touch a wall, fence or another tree. I can use poison, only as a last resort.