Ants invading my orchids! - Orchid Board

Neverend · #1 07-25-2007, 07:31 AM

I have a problem with ants in my garden, I keep my phals in pots of sphagnum moss, and it seems that when the moss gets somewhat dry, ants start to build nests inside the moss and eventually affects the health of my phal. Anyone knows how to prevent them from nesting in my phal pots? Watering it might be an option but I can't keep watering the phal...

gixrj18 · #2 07-25-2007, 02:35 PM

Try a different medium, they probably wouldn't bother it if you use coarse bark (they can't burrow). I've got sugar ants on my back porch, that climb all over my orchids to eat the secretions on them. Sometimes they steal my moss for the sweetness (because I use molasses in my bloom fert.)I have never had a problem with them hurting the plants, or living in them. Although, I've found that they don't come in my house anymore, since they get their food & water on the back porch.

Lagoon · #3 07-25-2007, 04:10 PM

These little freeloaders will jump in any media

I'm thinking blow torch

Where is this ochid located?

If I had mine on the ground as I once did, they would be everywhere inside.
Any 'chids that I keep outside now are ALL off the ground.
In the past caffeine has worked very well for me, nothing wrong with a sip of tea of coffee, low in calories too

cb977 · #4 07-25-2007, 04:12 PM

Ants themselves are not going to cause any damage. The problem with them is that they are "carriers" and will bring your orchids little gifts...like other pests that you don't want

We had a long discussion on the subject recently, take a look through this thread:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-rid-ants.html

gixrj18 · #5 07-25-2007, 05:27 PM

Yes, Susanne is correct, ants are notorious for farming aphids for the honeydew they secrete.

Neverend · #6 07-26-2007, 06:36 AM

I have these weird red tiny egg-like stuff on my orchid after these ants came, and my phal seems to be deteriorating after the presence of these red stuff, now I don't even know what medium to use (since the only airy medium I have is perlite)

My phals are elevated off the ground but they still manage to find their way here =/

gixrj18 · #7 07-26-2007, 06:58 AM

That red stuff may very well be spider mites, especially if you see any fine, spider-web looking stuff. Time to spray!!!!!!

Palito · #8 07-26-2007, 11:53 AM

lol. One of my vandas has a colony of ants living inside of it. they seem harmless.

Neverend · #9 07-28-2007, 12:04 AM

Here it is:

And I even found a white version:

gixrj18 · #10 07-28-2007, 01:32 AM

The red ones look like spider mites, white ones could be eggs. If there is a silky, spider web-looking material anywhere on the plant, then they are definitely spider mites. If you don't get control of them now, they will move from plant to plant, killing each one along the way. You can get rid of them with a number of natural pesticides. I would use something with pyritherin or pyritherum in it, they are natural plant extracts, and can be found in a couple of pesticides at HD or Lowes. Or you can use insecticidinal soaps, also.