Ants in my plants! Ants in my plants!
Linnea Lahlum
last month
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Ants in my plants
Comments (13)Oh Lord, ANTS! I've written a good number of ant threads the last '4', four-years. Ants are a big problem in our area. While walking our dog, we'd see hundreds if not thousands on the walks. One problem is our neighbors have their gardens/grass sprayed w/poisons. I chose not to use chemical insecticides...but have changed my mind the last two years. Once neighbors have their lawns sprayed, every last critter finds their way to our house. Rhizo is 100% correct about Terro Ant Baits. Terro really rids ants. Baits need replacing every three months or so, but they work like a charm. I summer plants outdoors..when it's time to bring plants back in, the soil is loaded w/ants..Or were. Last spring, 2012, one plant that was about to go outside was so ant-infested, I tipped the plant over a piece of heavy cardboard, then dragged it outside. Wearing gloves! The plant was hosed and rehosed. But, to be honest, it's difficult ridding all, one-zillion disgusting ants. I filled a 24-inch pot w/o drainage holes w/water, then set the ant-infested plant inside, for days. Anway, here's what I did last autumn. Around July/Aug I placed indoor/outdoor ant baits between various sections where plants were placed. A week or two before bringing in, I watered EVERY SINGLE PLANT with vinegar. 'I don't suggest doing this, but it's up to you.' Between the baits and vinegar, I found very few ants in the house this year. 2012 was a dam* nightmare; didn't want a repeat in 2013. Repotting helps, but if repotted plants are left outside, those darn insects find a way back in the soil. The other day, while inspecting my plants, there were ants everywhere! Although I'm not afraid of ants, 'in small numbers,' when I see hundreds crawling on pots, leaves, shelves, it's like being in a horror movie. I went as far as ordering Praying Mantis eggs, assuming when larger they'd eat ants..No dice. I discovered mantis won't bother ants. They prefer larger prey. Oh, well, it was worth a try. I spray vinegar and sprinkle hot pepper powder on outdoor plants, shelves, and tables. (Vinegar is not sprayed on foliage.) Vinegar kills ants on contact and dislike the scent of hot pepper. Good luck to those of you who have ant problems. I'll have to check the link that was posted. Toni...See MoreAnts on my plants!
Comments (3)I am having the same problem my impatiens are starting to die. I've noticed clusters of dirt all around the buds at the top of the impatiens stem. When I pick it off and pull the dirt/bud/flower cluster apart, there are tons of ants congregating inside the cluster. I thought perhaps this was due to stink bugs biting in to the plants, leaching sweet substances that may be attracting an unusual amount of ants. At the rate this is happening, I will lose all of my impatiens....See MoreAnts in my Plants
Comments (10)I don't know how to get rid of them, but I accidentally put my TMS on an ant hill in June and they devoured it. Just left a twig. If it were me, I'd get that liquid ant killer that you put on a piece of wax paper for ants in the house. I like to be as organic as possible....See MoreFire ants under my citrus plants
Comments (7)Hi all, I like to share the good news. Over the weekend, I sprayed diatomaceous earth underneath the citrus plant where fire ants were nesting. I disturbed the small ant mound. They came out and I sprayed the diatomaceous earth over them and also around. I stopped water sprinkler to keep the ground dry. This afternoon I went to check. I did not see any ants. I even watered with a hose, they did not come out. Seems either they are dead and buried or they left. I did not see any ants or new mounds around. Probably they are killed. Many thanks to all of you, and especially to Laura LaRosa for her advice. I appreciate it indeed....See Moregardenfanatic2003
last monthMichele Rossi
last monthtapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last monthgardenfanatic2003
last monthgardenfanatic2003
last monthtapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last monthgardenfanatic2003
last monthlast modified: last monthtapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last monthMichele Rossi
last monthgardenfanatic2003
last monthlast modified: last monthtapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last monthLinnea Lahlum
17 days agogardenfanatic2003
17 days agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
17 days ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)