Ants in my Phals

[Leathal]

I pulled my plastic pots out of the clay ones I have them in for support and I noticed a bunch of tiny ants running around on the pot. I am sure they are in the plant too. How do I get rid of them? Thanks

[exasperatus2002]

tell them your uncle is home with a "friend". They usually pack up and leave quick then. but in all seriousness, have you tried soaking the pot in water? or are there to many pots to give a bath?

[BunnytheOrchid]

I didn't think ants were particularly attracted to orchids. What is there to eat? Does the orchid have sap? They might be attracted to the roots....but I think sap is more likely. Flushing them out with water might work. Or if there is sap, you might want to wipe it away. Something sugary like that will definitely keep them around.

[articuno75]

Your best bet is to get an insecticide. Orchids do produce sap and I'd say that there going after the sap. Brookn's Recipe is listed on a thread called The Best Stuff Ever !!! It's all natural and great for pretty much everything. Oh yeah, I used it on ants too......Like a charm.

[Hummer344]

Ants like the sap, BUT, more improtantly, they love all those nice loose spaces in the growing medium. Lots of places to hide and start new homes. Now wouldn't you love it if you had a free meal and a place to call home. LOL. Soaking it will drive the ants out then use the receipe from Jenny's post for the remaning critters.

[janet_a]

what hummer said. they LOOOOOVE my dens, which are in lava rock. after you drive them out (pour buckets of water through the pots--outside--or submerge the pot in a bucket of water (and then they all run up your arms ) and then spray some napalm-ant-death type thing in the bottom of your cache pot and the saucer it's sitting on once a week. i use d-con, just a spritz in the cache pots and a spritz in the saucers, and it seems to act as a barrier to keep 'em out.

happy spring.

[mayres]

The worst thing about ants is that they eventually will usually bring their "farm" critters with them to increase their food supply (sap) noted. This means mealy bugs and aphids. Stay after them.......

[articuno75]

Icky Bugs. Now you know Spring is upon us

[Vivienne]

Agreed - flush or soak them out.

Spring?? Is that what the 4" of white stuff is outside? LOL Grrr... no light through the skylights today. Hmph

[PhalPal]

I agree with Hummer - drown first, spray later.

[Leathal]

Thanks guys! I will try the soaking first, then the recipe.

[kazjak]

Why would you want to get rid of them? They set up fort and keep all the bad guys away. I would wait to see if they start farming aphids before ridding yourself of them.

[Leathal]

My orchids are on my lanai, and I really don't want forts in the house