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Joe starts with ...
With all the recent rain the ants have move to higher ground as well!. But how do I get rid of them out of my pot plants with out harming the plants. They are shifting and the soil from around the root system and building it up around the stems, even placing it ontop of my potted cacti. Is there a liquid ant kill natural or chemical to get them out of the pots.
With all the recent rain the ants have move to higher ground as well!. But how do I get rid of them out of my pot plants with out harming the plants. They are shifting and the soil from around the root system and building it up around the stems, even placing it ontop of my potted cacti. Is there a liquid ant kill natural or chemical to get them out of the pots.
Joe
Yabulu
26th January 2008
Tran says...
It is very funny but it is true that my husband and I notice the same thing that if we see ants somewhere in the house we then threaten them then they go away when we come back a week later. We can't explain. Anyway put your pots in a bucket of water for 1 hour and see how you go.
Good luck Joe.
It is very funny but it is true that my husband and I notice the same thing that if we see ants somewhere in the house we then threaten them then they go away when we come back a week later. We can't explain. Anyway put your pots in a bucket of water for 1 hour and see how you go.
Good luck Joe.
Tran
VIC
26th January 2008
Correy says...
We had exactly the same thing happen 3 weeks ago but instead of an ants nest we had a termite nest in the pot of our panama berry. At the time 50% of the leaves were browning and falling off.
There was about 5cm of sugar mulch on top of the soil so the first thing we did was totally get rid of that and then we started loosing up the soil on top and copmletely soaked the pot in soil.
3 weeks later and the termites are gone 98% of the leaves are a healthy green and we are eating the berries.
We had exactly the same thing happen 3 weeks ago but instead of an ants nest we had a termite nest in the pot of our panama berry. At the time 50% of the leaves were browning and falling off.
There was about 5cm of sugar mulch on top of the soil so the first thing we did was totally get rid of that and then we started loosing up the soil on top and copmletely soaked the pot in soil.
3 weeks later and the termites are gone 98% of the leaves are a healthy green and we are eating the berries.
| Pictures - Click to enlarge | ||
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Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
27th January 2008
Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
27th January 2008
Joe
Yabulu
27th January 2008
Diane says...
Hi Guys. I've been battling the 'ants in the pot' problem for years. I have coastal brown ants and black ants, all which have multiple queens. The workers need to check in on the queen for a chemical. Without the queen, the colony dies.
Previously I've been repotting my plants, but of late I've come across pyrethum powder from Bunnings. I mix some powder with water, then water my pot plants with it. The smaller pots I soak in the solution, but the larger pots get big doses of this solution which I repeat every couple of days. I also put a plant sorcer underneath the pots so the ants have no where to run. So far so good.
Pyrethum is a natural bug killer and I haven't noticed any adverse affect on all my lizards, which is good.
Hi Guys. I've been battling the 'ants in the pot' problem for years. I have coastal brown ants and black ants, all which have multiple queens. The workers need to check in on the queen for a chemical. Without the queen, the colony dies.
Previously I've been repotting my plants, but of late I've come across pyrethum powder from Bunnings. I mix some powder with water, then water my pot plants with it. The smaller pots I soak in the solution, but the larger pots get big doses of this solution which I repeat every couple of days. I also put a plant sorcer underneath the pots so the ants have no where to run. So far so good.
Pyrethum is a natural bug killer and I haven't noticed any adverse affect on all my lizards, which is good.
Diane
Penrith
24th February 2008
Diane
Penrith
24th February 2008
Dekka
Newcastle
24th February 2008
Diane
Penrith
25th February 2008
Joe
Yabulu
26th February 2008
Dekka
Newcastle
26th February 2008
Diane says...
Hi Joe. The pyrethum I have is a white powder that you would normally use dry. But I've been mixing it with water. Pyrethum comes from the crysanthimum flower (excuse spelling). My liquid solution hasn't harmed my plants in anyway as such. I've also contacted The Garden Gurus and approached them with the same problem. Their solution: ant killer powder. I've used it dry on a small lavender of mine, directly on the root system and the ants just poured out.
Depending on how big your cacti are, perhaps you could carefully lift them out of the pot and powderise the nest directly, otherwise poke down with a stick to quirt some powder down. If you don't want to kill the ants repot them then put a protective circle of ant powder around the pot. Another forum I came across spoke about a Borax/Sugar solution. Borax is also used in the Pest industry. It all depends on what ants you have and how many queens you have. But as Dekka asks, do the ants harm the cacti? If they don't you could leave them. If they've been nesting in your cacti for months on end now and the plants still look healthy, you shouldn't have much to worry about. Unfortunately for me, I've lost some good plants due to these little buggers. It's a love/ hate relationship. I've taken Dekka's advise to keep my pots moist, which shouldn't be a problem now with all the rain we are having.
Hi Joe. The pyrethum I have is a white powder that you would normally use dry. But I've been mixing it with water. Pyrethum comes from the crysanthimum flower (excuse spelling). My liquid solution hasn't harmed my plants in anyway as such. I've also contacted The Garden Gurus and approached them with the same problem. Their solution: ant killer powder. I've used it dry on a small lavender of mine, directly on the root system and the ants just poured out.
Depending on how big your cacti are, perhaps you could carefully lift them out of the pot and powderise the nest directly, otherwise poke down with a stick to quirt some powder down. If you don't want to kill the ants repot them then put a protective circle of ant powder around the pot. Another forum I came across spoke about a Borax/Sugar solution. Borax is also used in the Pest industry. It all depends on what ants you have and how many queens you have. But as Dekka asks, do the ants harm the cacti? If they don't you could leave them. If they've been nesting in your cacti for months on end now and the plants still look healthy, you shouldn't have much to worry about. Unfortunately for me, I've lost some good plants due to these little buggers. It's a love/ hate relationship. I've taken Dekka's advise to keep my pots moist, which shouldn't be a problem now with all the rain we are having.
Diane
Penrith
28th February 2008
Joe
Yabulu
1st March 2008
bekstar
perth
3rd March 2008
DAVID says...
ANT CONTROL 3 REMEDIES
#1
4-5 TBSP CORNMEAL
3 TBSP BACON GREASE (COOLED/FIRM)
3 TBSP BAKING POWDER
3 PACKAGES BAKERS YEAST
MIX CORNMEAL AND BACON GREASE INTO PASTE ADD BAKING POWDER AND YEAST THEN FEED THE ANTS!
#2
1 CUP SUGAR
3 CUPS WATER
1 TBSP BORIC ACID POWDER
BOIL SUGAR AND WATER REMOVE FROM HEAT ADD BORIC ACID LET COOL AND PLACE IN SMALL LIDS NEAR PROBLEM AREAS
#3
1 CUP FLOUR
1 TBSP BORIC ACID POWDER
2-3 TBSP SUGAR
2-3 TBSP BACON GREASE
ENOUGH WATER TO MAKE INTO DOUGH
MIX EVERYTHING INTO SMALL DOUGH BALLS AND USE WHEREVER NEEDED TO CONTROL ANTS AND OTHER PESTS
ANT CONTROL 3 REMEDIES
#1
4-5 TBSP CORNMEAL
3 TBSP BACON GREASE (COOLED/FIRM)
3 TBSP BAKING POWDER
3 PACKAGES BAKERS YEAST
MIX CORNMEAL AND BACON GREASE INTO PASTE ADD BAKING POWDER AND YEAST THEN FEED THE ANTS!
#2
1 CUP SUGAR
3 CUPS WATER
1 TBSP BORIC ACID POWDER
BOIL SUGAR AND WATER REMOVE FROM HEAT ADD BORIC ACID LET COOL AND PLACE IN SMALL LIDS NEAR PROBLEM AREAS
#3
1 CUP FLOUR
1 TBSP BORIC ACID POWDER
2-3 TBSP SUGAR
2-3 TBSP BACON GREASE
ENOUGH WATER TO MAKE INTO DOUGH
MIX EVERYTHING INTO SMALL DOUGH BALLS AND USE WHEREVER NEEDED TO CONTROL ANTS AND OTHER PESTS
DAVID
AUSTIN,TEXAS
4th March 2008
Jeannettte
14th March 2008
john
15th March 2008
peter
adelaide
15th March 2008
Dekka says...
Borax can indeed be used for killing ants, however, around plants I would use caution as Boron is a micro-nutrient and its addition to soil can then create an imbalance in the ratios of other micro-nutrients.
in my previous postings I neglected to suggest the use of ant deterrent plants such as the herbs "Pennyroyal" and "Tansy" (although Tansy can be disagreeable to some plants.)
Borax can indeed be used for killing ants, however, around plants I would use caution as Boron is a micro-nutrient and its addition to soil can then create an imbalance in the ratios of other micro-nutrients.
in my previous postings I neglected to suggest the use of ant deterrent plants such as the herbs "Pennyroyal" and "Tansy" (although Tansy can be disagreeable to some plants.)
Dekka
Newcastle
16th March 2008
Diane says...
Hi John. The brand name I have is Chemspray: Home Pest Control - ANT KILLER DUST. The active constituent is 20g/kg Permethrin 40:60 which is a synthetic pyrethrum.
Comes in a yellow, plastic bottle 300g net. Also has a web address www.amgrowgardenking.com.au
Hope that helps.
Hi John. The brand name I have is Chemspray: Home Pest Control - ANT KILLER DUST. The active constituent is 20g/kg Permethrin 40:60 which is a synthetic pyrethrum.
Comes in a yellow, plastic bottle 300g net. Also has a web address www.amgrowgardenking.com.au
Hope that helps.
Diane
Penrith
19th March 2008
john
21st March 2008
Dekka says...
I would sincerely urge anyone who believes that Pyrethrum is a low-toxic insecticide to look at this article:-
Pyrethroids: Not as safe as you think.
http://www.anapsid.org/pyrethroids.html
People can easily confuse 'natural' with 'safe' especially when chemical manufacturers infer it in their marketing.
I would sincerely urge anyone who believes that Pyrethrum is a low-toxic insecticide to look at this article:-
Pyrethroids: Not as safe as you think.
http://www.anapsid.org/pyrethroids.html
People can easily confuse 'natural' with 'safe' especially when chemical manufacturers infer it in their marketing.
Dekka
Newcastle
21st March 2008
john says...
thanks dekka.you are right about pyrethroids having some toxicity,but they are still a lot less toxic than the heavy duty chemicals-the organophosphates etc.
the problem with things like garlic and the herbs is they dont work well enough.they have a mild repellant effect but thats all.
the least toxic insecticides that actually kill ants are the pyrethroids.
i am looking at trying something called diatomaceous earth.this is used for insect control in wheat silos, so it should be fairly safe.i cant find it anywhere-tried bunnings etc. any ideas on where i can get this?
thanks dekka.you are right about pyrethroids having some toxicity,but they are still a lot less toxic than the heavy duty chemicals-the organophosphates etc.
the problem with things like garlic and the herbs is they dont work well enough.they have a mild repellant effect but thats all.
the least toxic insecticides that actually kill ants are the pyrethroids.
i am looking at trying something called diatomaceous earth.this is used for insect control in wheat silos, so it should be fairly safe.i cant find it anywhere-tried bunnings etc. any ideas on where i can get this?
john
24th March 2008
peter
adelaide
24th March 2008
Dekka says...
John, Before you go and inhale a lungful of silica, consider trying the most low-risk options.
1. What has made your garden attractive to ants, e.g, food and habitat? Can it be reduced?
2.Does your garden provide habitat for ant carnivores such as skinks and ant-lions.
3.Have you tried disturbing the ants on an ongoing basis 'til they move on?
4. You could use an agricultural glue around the entry point?
5.If you want to kill them, have you considered boiling water down the hole?
I become a little dismayed when gardening programs (or forums for that matter) become more like poisoning promos.
John, Before you go and inhale a lungful of silica, consider trying the most low-risk options.
1. What has made your garden attractive to ants, e.g, food and habitat? Can it be reduced?
2.Does your garden provide habitat for ant carnivores such as skinks and ant-lions.
3.Have you tried disturbing the ants on an ongoing basis 'til they move on?
4. You could use an agricultural glue around the entry point?
5.If you want to kill them, have you considered boiling water down the hole?
I become a little dismayed when gardening programs (or forums for that matter) become more like poisoning promos.
Dekka
Newcastle
24th March 2008
john says...
dekka,i am not a proponent of heavy duty pesticides like lindane,malathion etc.
these things are definately toxic.
what i do want however is a result.where i live, ants are not only affecting my pot plants,but they get inside my house and attack electric sockets and wiring.i have a real problem with ants.
i considered all of your suggestions,but in some locations{i live in darwin},it is trench warfare.
which brings me to diatomaceous earth.
diatomaceous earth is a "mechanical" insecticide-it is like a microscopic razor which cuts insects as they crawl over it.they back off very quickly.it has no effect on people or animals-only tiny insects.dekka, i wont get a lungful of silica because i will wear a mask.
if i can get some,i intend to use it as a physical barrier around the pots,and other places.
peter,the swimming pool stuff doesnt work because it has been pulverised,and there is no razor effect.i need the "food" grade.
dekka,i am not a proponent of heavy duty pesticides like lindane,malathion etc.
these things are definately toxic.
what i do want however is a result.where i live, ants are not only affecting my pot plants,but they get inside my house and attack electric sockets and wiring.i have a real problem with ants.
i considered all of your suggestions,but in some locations{i live in darwin},it is trench warfare.
which brings me to diatomaceous earth.
diatomaceous earth is a "mechanical" insecticide-it is like a microscopic razor which cuts insects as they crawl over it.they back off very quickly.it has no effect on people or animals-only tiny insects.dekka, i wont get a lungful of silica because i will wear a mask.
if i can get some,i intend to use it as a physical barrier around the pots,and other places.
peter,the swimming pool stuff doesnt work because it has been pulverised,and there is no razor effect.i need the "food" grade.
john
25th March 2008
Dekka
Newcastle
25th March 2008
Diane says...
Hi John, Looks like you have the same problem that I do with ants in the house. In our office, right behind the wall I'm sitting next to, is a happy trail of ants. But we can't find where they are coming from. Initially we tried the granula stuff like antsand, and even the liquid ant rid. Useless to say the least. As we don't own the house we can't pull the wall down either so I've masked up the socket around the plugs and switch so they don't come in. Our bathroom is the same, right behind the wall where the bathtub sits.
I've never heard of diatomaceous earth. I'll look into that for inside the house. I'm happy with pyrethrum for my plants and they are happy too. I have a rose bush whoes roots I've literally and liberally coated with the powder, and the bush is coming along quite well now.
Joe - how are your cacti coming along? Have you had any success yet?
Di
Hi John, Looks like you have the same problem that I do with ants in the house. In our office, right behind the wall I'm sitting next to, is a happy trail of ants. But we can't find where they are coming from. Initially we tried the granula stuff like antsand, and even the liquid ant rid. Useless to say the least. As we don't own the house we can't pull the wall down either so I've masked up the socket around the plugs and switch so they don't come in. Our bathroom is the same, right behind the wall where the bathtub sits.
I've never heard of diatomaceous earth. I'll look into that for inside the house. I'm happy with pyrethrum for my plants and they are happy too. I have a rose bush whoes roots I've literally and liberally coated with the powder, and the bush is coming along quite well now.
Joe - how are your cacti coming along? Have you had any success yet?
Di
Diane
Penrith
26th March 2008
john says...
thanks dekka.this stuff should be easier to get than it is.if it works in wheat silos,then it should be more widely used in the gardening and pest control world.it has a lot of advantages.
the 5kg bag is a bit much.if someone is looking for a business idea,they should buy it of the bulk suppliers to the silos,put it in 1kg bags,and sell it to the public thru garden suppliers.
hello diane.this stuff should do the trick for your house,and as a bonus,it will also work for your pot plants.it is ok about pets.make sure you dont get the swimming pool stuff-get it from where dekka said.
thanks dekka.this stuff should be easier to get than it is.if it works in wheat silos,then it should be more widely used in the gardening and pest control world.it has a lot of advantages.
the 5kg bag is a bit much.if someone is looking for a business idea,they should buy it of the bulk suppliers to the silos,put it in 1kg bags,and sell it to the public thru garden suppliers.
hello diane.this stuff should do the trick for your house,and as a bonus,it will also work for your pot plants.it is ok about pets.make sure you dont get the swimming pool stuff-get it from where dekka said.
john
26th March 2008
Joe says...
Hi Diane, Boy haven't I created an ants nest with this question hey!. So far so good. Most of the ants have moved out with just the use of the pyrethrum powder. And I got it from Bunnings. I apply it once a fortnight and it seems to be shifting them. And it has not hurt my cacti. When I was at Bunnings the Ladies in the nursery section told me that the ant Liquid was the best for in the house, all thought not a good idea if you have a 1 year old like mine..(Or pets in the house)As long as it is out of reach it has been working well. Thanks again for everyone's imput it has been very intresting and usefull.
Joe
Hi Diane, Boy haven't I created an ants nest with this question hey!. So far so good. Most of the ants have moved out with just the use of the pyrethrum powder. And I got it from Bunnings. I apply it once a fortnight and it seems to be shifting them. And it has not hurt my cacti. When I was at Bunnings the Ladies in the nursery section told me that the ant Liquid was the best for in the house, all thought not a good idea if you have a 1 year old like mine..(Or pets in the house)As long as it is out of reach it has been working well. Thanks again for everyone's imput it has been very intresting and usefull.
Joe
Joe
Yabulu
28th March 2008
Diane
Penrith
31st March 2008
Diane says...
Hi Joe, Glad the powder is working for you. I've tried Ant Rid inside the house. I've actually put it on the power point rim. All it did was get the ants stuck and what seeped behind the socket at the wall eventually ate through the wiring. My hubby had to do a bit of work to replace everything, socket and all.
I'm going to give that stuff Dekka mentioned a go for inside the wall. It's working for John. I don't have kids, but do have an animal inside the house with hundreds of lizards outside, including a family of blue tongues with their own new born. I was wondering what my cat was looking at in the pumpkin patch. Cheers.
Hi Joe, Glad the powder is working for you. I've tried Ant Rid inside the house. I've actually put it on the power point rim. All it did was get the ants stuck and what seeped behind the socket at the wall eventually ate through the wiring. My hubby had to do a bit of work to replace everything, socket and all.
I'm going to give that stuff Dekka mentioned a go for inside the wall. It's working for John. I don't have kids, but do have an animal inside the house with hundreds of lizards outside, including a family of blue tongues with their own new born. I was wondering what my cat was looking at in the pumpkin patch. Cheers.
Diane
Penrith
31st March 2008
john says...
Hello Diane.Hard to do business things from darwin.Its like living on the moon up here.
The thing with laying D.E. in the house is that the ants will back off,but then look for another way,so you lay it whenever you see a new trail.They soon get the message.
With the pot plants,just lay it in a circle around the pots.You should be able to lay it around the plants themselves.After all,it is fossilised seaweed so there should be a fertiliser effect.
The only downside is to wear a mask[get one from the chemist] as dekka said.D.E. is safe to ingest but not to inhale.It is fed to pets as an internal parasitic but dont get any in your lungs.
Some of the alternative pet food suppliers should have it.I have sourced a 1kg bag in QLD and its "in the mail"
Hello Diane.Hard to do business things from darwin.Its like living on the moon up here.
The thing with laying D.E. in the house is that the ants will back off,but then look for another way,so you lay it whenever you see a new trail.They soon get the message.
With the pot plants,just lay it in a circle around the pots.You should be able to lay it around the plants themselves.After all,it is fossilised seaweed so there should be a fertiliser effect.
The only downside is to wear a mask[get one from the chemist] as dekka said.D.E. is safe to ingest but not to inhale.It is fed to pets as an internal parasitic but dont get any in your lungs.
Some of the alternative pet food suppliers should have it.I have sourced a 1kg bag in QLD and its "in the mail"
john
1st April 2008
Diane
Penrith
1st April 2008
Anonymous says...
well i can say dont use flyspray i did it with a 150$ blue cycad and killed the plant by disturbing the roots.there is ant sand sprinkle it in the plant soil and the saucer if it has one perhaps.any othe chemicals will kill all microbugs ,making the soil void of goodies and nutrients andworms etc.
well i can say dont use flyspray i did it with a 150$ blue cycad and killed the plant by disturbing the roots.there is ant sand sprinkle it in the plant soil and the saucer if it has one perhaps.any othe chemicals will kill all microbugs ,making the soil void of goodies and nutrients andworms etc.
Anonymous
14th June 2008
Anonymous says...
one thing i can suggest to stop ants invading new pots is to put some fly screen over the holes in the bottom of the pot. Just cut up a few squares and overlay them. This stops the bugs getting in but still allows drainage. it also stops your soil from coming out the bottom. You can buy fly screen mesh from bunnings by the metre.
one thing i can suggest to stop ants invading new pots is to put some fly screen over the holes in the bottom of the pot. Just cut up a few squares and overlay them. This stops the bugs getting in but still allows drainage. it also stops your soil from coming out the bottom. You can buy fly screen mesh from bunnings by the metre.
Anonymous
8th July 2008