How do you get rid of ants? - Page 3 - Orchid Board

puddin · #21 06-19-2007, 01:04 PM

You know, a good scary movie would be if ants grew bigger than us and took over the world. They have the numbers. Yes Charles, the ants were 1/32 of an inch or close to that. Oh, totally off topic, I got 2 new plants from Ebay! One is a Sharry Baby and the other is Bllre Diana Dunn Newberry. The Newberry is huge! I'll try to put some pictures on later.

Tindomul · #22 06-19-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddin

You know, a good scary movie would be if ants grew bigger than us and took over the world.

I thought they made that movie already, in the 50's.
Them or It or something like that.

Dorothy · #23 06-19-2007, 04:17 PM

It was a clown alien movie, story by Stephen King.

Them is it .. 1954 ..
and Empire of the Ants ..1977 ..

Tindomul · #24 06-19-2007, 04:21 PM

Oh, They?? lol. I know there was a giant ant movie!

puddin · #25 06-19-2007, 06:23 PM

I figured they made a scary movie like that. There are some with giant spiders and moths and ect. That was a big thing at one point. Good thing they don't do that now, with all the special effects and stuff, it could really get scary.

Marianne · #26 06-14-2008, 10:35 AM

Charles,
I was wondering if you had any advice for me. Today, I watered my orchid and hundreds of ants came pouring out. I live in Miami, FL and keep the orchid outside. The ants were tiny, and light colored (looked golden but maybe called "red"). They were each carrying a piece of something that was white. Sadly, the tip of a leaf has turned orange

. I don't want to use any organic pesticides because many are bad for the environment. I am willing to use boric acid but want to make sure that it is safe for the plant. I am also willing to use natural remedies like garlic and cinnamon, but am unsure if these are long term solutions. If I get rid of the ants, will they just return?
Thanks!
Marianne

Dorothy · #27 06-14-2008, 11:27 AM

Marianne - First of all

to the OB
Look on the 2 previous pages of this thread and you will find posts that list different commerical products and home remedies to eradicate ants ..

Ants aren't the problem so much as other bugs that they prey off of that will do damage to your orchids like aphids and mites which ants will herd .. ( Ants 'milk' aphids

Oh the horror!

)
Fun Facts -

Myrmecophila (meaning - ant-loving) is a genus of orchid that actually encourages ants to live in their hollow pseudobulbs. This symbiotic relationship protects the orchid from insect infestation as ants are ruthlessly territorial and in turn, provides the ants with a place to thrive.
I read somewhere that the ants provide these orchids with 'fertilizer' (I am not sure if it's from their excrement or from their 'luggage' .)
Ok, I found it - "The ants associated with Myrmecophila tibicinis pack many of the pseudobulbs with debris that includes other dead ants, a variety of insects, pieces of plant material, seeds and sand. Myrmecophila tibicinis directly utilizes minerals of the organic debris ("garbage dumps") deposited by the ants inside the hollow pseudobulbs." from Myrmecophila - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marianne · #28 06-14-2008, 11:51 AM

Marianne · #29 06-14-2008, 11:52 AM

Hi Charles!
As I mentioned earlier my orchid was invaded by tiny ants. Actually, upon closer inspection, the ants are not red or golden. On each ant, the thick, lower abdomen is creamy white and the head is brown. I diluted white vinegar in water and added some cinnamon. I used this mixture to flood the orchid and hundreds of them got washed away (I hope this did not hurt the plant). Then, I rinsed the orchid several times with regular water. I surrounded the periphery of the table with cinnamon to prevent the ants from returning. Still, some resilient ants would not leave the orchid! I am worried they will repopulate the orchid. What should I do?
Thanks!
Marianne

Junebug · #30 06-14-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puddin

I just watered one of my orchids, and all of these ants appeared. They somehow got into the house and moved in, for I grow my plants on shelves with lights over them IN THE HOUSE. I need them out, what is an easy way of getting rid of them? I have some ideas, but they aren't very good. I would like something without chemicals, because I have 3 cats, and anything that goes in the ground gets into our well water. Thanks!

I use a light sprinkle of Sevin dust over the potting medium...leave it sit for a few hours and then sprinkle the top of the medium with water so it works it's way down. This method works and eliminates the ants within a day or two. You could isolate your plants during the brief treatment to ensure no harm to your pets.