ants, ants, and ants

[ryanjoe888]

i got ants on my potted catts and mounted phals... will they do harm with my orchids or they're just housing there? how can i get rid of these poor creatures?

[mayres]

We have a number of commercial baits here in the states - which the ants take back to their colony and eventually they die off from the poison - I have found a product called Terro especially good. The ants themselves will do your orchids no harm, but at least in my area they "farm" other pests - namely mealy bugs and aphids - which will suck the life out of your orchids. Another home remedy used by many is sugar and borax - either mixed dry or more commonly made into a syrup - again it works like a poison.

[missann]

Ants on orchids are usually a sign of aphids. Thy aphids (who will harm your orchids) secret honeydew on the plants. It can gather fungus and mold and hurt your plants further. I had ants, and when I took a closer look, I saw the aphids. I use Bayer rose and flower insect spray, and it has never given me any problems with hurting the orchids. Spray once a week, and clean the leaves with lemon juice or water to get the honeydew off. You may also want to treat with an antifungal to prevent any honeydew residue that is still left after you clean the leaves from getting on your plants.
Good luck.

[Yiu Lin]

I've noticed the same thing on my catt, and the ants seem to be congregating on the new shoot. I saw a separate thread (can't remember the name of it now) that talked about having the carnivourous plants in the same place as your orchids. It's more natural this way, without having to use chemicals. I'm planning on buying a couple of venus flytraps this weekend. Hope this works!

[Hummer344]

Unless other critters are present, the ants are using your potting medium as a nesting site. You can soak the plant in water and that will drive a lot of them out. I use the previously mentioned Terro. The ants just can't resist it. Put it on a piece of cardboard on top of the potting medium and they will flock to it. Its not an instant kill but the little buggers get the stuff on them, take it back to the nest, the other ants try to clean them and also ingest the stuff. Presto, well not that quick, they die to. Very organic. The stuff is based on Boric Acid which the ants can't digest.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by Yiu Lin

I've noticed the same thing on my catt, and the ants seem to be congregating on the new shoot. I saw a separate thread (can't remember the name of it now) that talked about having the carnivourous plants in the same place as your orchids. It's more natural this way, without having to use chemicals. I'm planning on buying a couple of venus flytraps this weekend. Hope this works!

I tried those. did not work I still like pesticides. Easier to control

However, my pitcher plant do attract a lot of ants.

[janet_a]

i 2d the terro ant baits; they can't resist them. (of course, your plants and growing areas look a little strange festooned with these little orange plastic things...)

[makulay]

I'm planning to use ant baits after failing with pesticides, i want to save my poor plants.

BWT,
new here.

[Nancy]

I've found that when I drive the ants out of one pot that they just take residence in the next pot over. I'm trying the carniverous plants. It's good to hear that the Pitcher Plants attracr ants. I have two of them. My husband sprayed the orchid with an alcohol/water combination and I think it caused one of my orchid flowers to die prematurely. Since that about broke my heart I'm going to stick with the Carniverous Plants. Is there anything that can be sprayed on plants maybe four times a year as a preventative for impending bug attacks? It sure would be great if there was.

[janet_a]

what are your plants on/in? raid makes this napalm ant death stuff (i think it may be roach and ant killer) that i spray inside the cache pots of the few of my 'chids that are in cache pots, and in the middle of the saucers that a few of them are on. since the majority of 'em are on a windowsill, i also spray down the cracks and crevices of the sill and seat. otherwise, "eternal vigilance is the price of... not ants" or whatever the saying is. just try and stay ahead of them; examine the plants at least weekly to see if there's a little column of critters headed into the pot. (since i take my plants into the kitchen sink to water, this is easy for me.) sometimes i've had to pull them all off the racks and spray down the racks. but so far so good this season with putting the terro traps in the way of any ants i see; no infestations in the pots. -fingers crossed-

[Nancy]

I've tried different insecticides as well as alcohol and water. I take my plants to the bathroom to water them, usually twice a week and that is how I discovered that the ants just move from pot to pot. I have ant baits and sticky traps for the gnats but it's become kind of overwhelming. I have so many orchids to move at one time it would be an all day job. Thanks for the reply.

[cloudswinger]

I had two pots with nesting ants. they were clear pots so you could see the ant pupae. I tried the drowning method, but they had more patience than I did, so I repotted them, since they needed it anyway, and dumped the old media out. All the ones that have had ants have also needed repotting, at least for me. I think if you have a lot, a pesticide would probably be required, because they do move from pot to pot.

[janet_a]

well, all else failing, i've *heard* that one of the bayer systemics is safe for orchids and will kill ants.... but i have no first hand experience. might be worth giving bayer a call if you find yourself at wit's end, with the plants all piled in the backyard, lighter fluid poured on them and you standing there with a match.

[Nancy]

Sometimes that idea comes to me at watering time. I just can't help myself. I have to have more, more, more. Is there a twelve step program entitled Orchids Anonymous?

[janet_a]

fortunately, i have limited space. this keeps me from saying "ooh pretty!" and bringing home more.

[ellecry2]

I always have a number of plants that will get ants. Since they they don't bother the orchids and they are only sugar ants I leave them alone. By the time it gets too cool for the orchids they've pretty much have moved back down to their home below ground and a good long soak takes care of the stragglers. The 4 fat toads that live in the pots appreciate the non pesitcide approach anyway.

ellecry

[Nancy]

Is that yet another means of insect control, keeping toads in your pots? I think that's kind of neat. Do they disrupt the growth of the orchids in any way?

[doodlekitty]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Is that yet another means of insect control, keeping toads in your pots? I think that's kind of neat. Do they disrupt the growth of the orchids in any way?

They'll disrupt the growth of your pets if you have any. Those nasty toads are poisenous and my cat loves to play with them.