Help with ants

[Neenie]

What is a good fix for ants in the hanging plants? We live in Florida so I know we will have ants now that spring & summer are here. Any thing natural or will a pesticide be needed. Oh I am new to this but if you can see the picture of the Vanda by my name, My Hubby took Best in Show & 1st Place at the Fair. Fist time we ever did anthing like that. Whoo Hoo

[digitalgate]

plenty of stuff to get rid of ant, ranging from ant powder (You can get it at a local nursery)
to expensive fungus that grow on ants, to .. he he he, blow torch...

[made4engineering]

Umm... did you say hanging plants? So are they crawling down the chain or rope or whatever into the pot? I would probably wrap a strip of tape backwards around the top of the rope...

[Hummer344]

Boric Acid powder around the plant. the ants walk in, it gets on them, they go back to the nest, the other ants try and clean it and everyone dies. This all takes time. Butttt if they are climbing up a chain or rope to get to the plant then some sticky tape or vasoline, or axel grease will prevent from climbing. Of course not everyone knows where to find axel grease any longer. LOL

[mbasden]

I dont know if this will help, but there is a product for sugar eating ants called Terro. It comes in a bottle and is put on an area in and around the affected area. It is sugar based and has the Boric acid in it. This will work only if the ants are attracted to sugar. If you have fire ants or carpenter ants you then have a problem that an exterminator will have to deal with. Fire ants are a real problem around my home and will get in any potted plant or orchid in a heartbeat. I have had to totally re-pot plants that have them inside and I have had a bunch of painful bites to show for it. I soak the plants in a bucket of water, and when they float to the top, remove the plant and put oil on the ants and watch them drown.

[articuno75]

You could try Brookn's recipe . Another thing would be diatomasceous earth. (I don't think I spelled it right) Both are non toxic.

I know the first one kills ants here, don't know about the fire kind.

As for the earth,,,,it's a powdery substance that ANY bug with an exoskeleton will dry out from the outside in and DIE. This stuff causes the exoskeleton of a bug to fall off. Gross but effective. Sprinkle it around and let them track through the stuff and take it back to the lair. It was wonderful when I had my pets.

[mbasden]

Jenny, where would I get the diatomaceousa(sp) earth? I would like to try that on the fire ants, for they are very hard to get rid of. If that would work I will personally send you a hug! Let me know.

[articuno75]

I used to buy the stuff online through a pet supply store called Jefferspet, but Phalpal and someone else a while back said you can buy it through Pool supplies as well. I guess it's also used for filtration systems in pools. You can get it at pretty much any pet or farm supply (Tractor Supply Co., Petsmart) Hope this helps

[mbasden]

Thank you I will try it and give you an update.

[FLaCo]

Originally Posted by made4engineering

Umm... did you say hanging plants? So are they crawling down the chain or rope or whatever into the pot? I would probably wrap a strip of tape backwards around the top of the rope...

LOL!

Special Forces Ants...

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

plenty of stuff to get rid of ant, ranging from ant powder (You can get it at a local nursery)
to expensive fungus that grow on ants, to .. he he he, blow torch...

You forgot the magnifying glass on a sunny day.

[Vivienne]

My youngest son (he's 15) loves to do the magnifying glass on a sunny day trick! Go figure!!

[articuno75]

LOL! When I was young and lived in Georgia, We had a riding stable near Phoenix City, AL. Fire ants like crazy down there. Evil little suckers. One day I was riding and went to take a break while on one of the trails. When I stepped down off the horse I landed straight into a mound! (Can we say OUCH people?!!!) I was only 12 at the time, but them ants didn't care. I was covered head to toe in little red pustule bumps. My dad got sooo mad (at the ants, not me ) he went back to the mound, which was over a foot in height, and dumped gas all over it. Then he burned it down Roasted marshmallows over it we did!!!

[Neenie]

Thank you everyone for the advise. However I will stay away from the blow torch at this time.

[jbigio]

May I add one last suggestion ..................a pet ant eater!

[patlee]

Woops, another alternative store--my husband uses (well, used to use) diatomaceous earth for the outside,hanging filters on his aquariums. You can also purchase it at any aquarium supply place. Good luck...

[PhalPal]

The D-earth we get for our jacuzzi comes in 30 pound boxes.(about $25??) I have seen it at Armstrongs Nursery in smaller 1-2 pound boxes. The best part about it is that it is non-toxic to pets and people.

I would also put some kind of oil on your hangers and give them a little ride! WEEEEEEE! Little ant screams.

[kazjak]

I had a bad case of carpenter ants in my house this winter and I squirted the liquid ant baits everywhere I found them hiding... I even caught about 10 of them and stuck them in the liquid bait so they had to get themselves out and "clean themselves" off. I've only seen one since mid Febuary. I'm hoping that was the end of them. I'll be dusting my perimeter outside soon....

[brookn]

A lot of people around here use cinnamon, the ants supposedly don't like it. I have not, I just get the bait. They sprinkle cinnamon where the ants go. It has been recomended to me several times.

[mbasden]

Just yesterday, I went to look at my cp's and the fire ants have again built a nest in them. They are very persistent and I will try the d-earth this weekend. Will post updates.

[articuno75]

Make sure it's the powder/dust, and be sure to sprinkle everywhere that the ants track.

[jerrymeola]

Jenny

Your father's burn pile was good for his anger but did nothing to kill the ants. When you see one file ant mount there are 6-8 others near by attached. They just go out the back door.

[digitalgate]

that is why fungus that grow on insect sure kill them. it grow and kill them in the process.

[mbasden]

Will do Jenny. I have to go out this wkend and I will look for some. Thanks. Jerry you are right about the back door. Those things are escape artists along with having a nasty temperament and a bad bite. D-gate, if you can find this fungus and patent it you would make millions down here in NC. The things are everywhere

[articuno75]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

Jenny

Your father's burn pile was good for his anger but did nothing to kill the ants. When you see one file ant mount there are 6-8 others near by attached. They just go out the back door.

Oh I know, it's just looking back at it all it was hilarious. You know....One of those "Crazy in Alabama" moments.....