Ants - Orchid Board

newyorksquires · #1 03-12-2008, 10:06 PM

Now living in southern FL, Just started raising orchids and am in love, am haveing a peoblem with white leg ants in our home, got that under control but now ants are all over 3 of my orchids, orchids are outside on the back deck, how can i get rid of them without killing the orchids

susiep · #2 03-12-2008, 10:38 PM

Ants are a big problem in South Florida. The best treatment is that Terro syrup. It will attract a million to start, but then they take it away to the nest and all eat it and die. Ants on plants are bad because that means aphids are nearby (ants use aphids like we use milk cows). Also mealy bugs. So look closer for these other bugs and treat them quick! For just a couple plants you can get Orthenex spray can (no mixing!) It has never hurt my plants. Just keep them out of the sun after spraying them.

Dorothy · #3 03-13-2008, 10:19 AM

I found this link in another post - How To Get Rid of Ants Naturally | eHow.com
I hope this is helpful
I also have read that cinnamon, citrus and oregano are not liked by ants

(I am not visualizing ants milking aphids .. no, I am not .. ICK! ..

and just when I stopped having those nightmares ..

)

newyorksquires · #4 03-13-2008, 10:32 AM

These are those odd white footed ants that S Fl is blessed with. I saw and started fighting them about a month ago and brought in a exterminator last week. He would not get near my orchids which are outside anyway. My plants dont seam to have any damage and I dont see any aphids or other critters on them. Biggest problem is I cant take them inside and show them off.....

susiep · #5 03-13-2008, 10:35 AM

Sorry Dorothy, I didn't mean to do that! I just mean where there are ants, there are other bad insects. And I know you northerners think... ants, no big deal. But we have a serious ant problem down here. Sometimes they swarm and it's enough to give you the heebie-jeebies.

smweaver · #6 03-13-2008, 11:12 AM

Well, I suppose this is one (tiny) reason not to be completely envious of you growers in Florida. The ants we have in my locale (central Indiana) get all over my orchids when I put them outdoors during the summer. But they've never brought their "milk cows" along to snack on the plants. They are, however, quite enamored of the sugary deposits that form on the buds and new growths of the orchids. The local hornets and wasps are also fond of the sap. You can try to put that sticky "Tangle Foot" product around the base of legs on your orchid benches. It comes in a tube (I used to find it at Lowe's) and is supposedly nontoxic; it just acts as a physical barrier to keep anything from creeping past it. Might be a decent alternative to blasting everything with nasty chemicals. I used to use it a lot, and it worked very well. But I don't use it any longer as I've become too fond of watching the activities of the ants (and yes, the hornets and wasps too) whenever I'm out with the orchids.

cb977 · #7 03-13-2008, 11:52 AM

You can put diamaceous earth around the orchid area...pests won't cross over it.

Whenever you put out any type of insect killer, mix in a little sugar, molasses or Karo...the sweet will draw them to the poison

Dorothy · #8 03-13-2008, 12:21 PM

Susiep - We get ants here too but I am sure no where near as badly as in the south .. I can get infested with those little sugar ants and they give me the heebies too

No reason to apologize - I'll get over the aphid-milking ants ....... someday ...

Gin · #9 03-13-2008, 12:51 PM

I have found when you see ants on a non blooming plant might also be brown scale on it the ants (gag) eat the waste from them . I use Terro to get rid of them it is boric acid and sugar here is a link on how to make your own . Keep away from pets and kids . Control for Sugar Ants, Argentine Ants; Kill Other Little Ants in Your House Naturally

Dorothy · #10 03-13-2008, 01:16 PM

YUCK!

Oh the horror!