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Old 04-01-2008, 07:11 PM
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Help with ants

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
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Old 04-01-2008, 07:35 PM
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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...
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Old 04-01-2008, 09:03 PM
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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...
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Old 04-01-2008, 09:07 PM
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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
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Old 04-02-2008, 08:03 AM
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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.
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Old 04-02-2008, 09:26 AM
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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.
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Old 04-02-2008, 09:36 AM
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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.
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Old 04-02-2008, 09:54 AM
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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
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Old 04-02-2008, 10:36 AM
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Thank you I will try it and give you an update.
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Old 04-02-2008, 12:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by made4engineering View Post
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...
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Old 04-02-2008, 12:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalgate View Post
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.
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Old 04-02-2008, 12:59 PM
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My youngest son (he's 15) loves to do the magnifying glass on a sunny day trick! Go figure!!
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Old 04-02-2008, 01:55 PM
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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!!!
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Old 04-02-2008, 02:33 PM
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Thank you everyone for the advise. However I will stay away from the blow torch at this time.
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Old 04-02-2008, 07:29 PM
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May I add one last suggestion ..................a pet ant eater!
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Old 04-02-2008, 07:55 PM
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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...
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Old 04-02-2008, 09:29 PM
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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.
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Old 04-02-2008, 10:01 PM
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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....
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Old 04-03-2008, 01:36 AM
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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.
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:29 AM
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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.
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Old 04-03-2008, 08:44 AM
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Make sure it's the powder/dust, and be sure to sprinkle everywhere that the ants track.
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Old 04-03-2008, 09:00 AM
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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.
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Old 04-03-2008, 09:11 AM
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that is why fungus that grow on insect sure kill them. it grow and kill them in the process.
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