ANTS!!??!!??
 

i found a whole colony of ants in my phalaenopsis's pot when i was watering it. i repotted and there looks to be no more ants. there were no more ant in any other pots. the one that had ants is outside. is there anyway to prevent ants?

No.

General upkeep will limit their numbers.

Some orchids naturally attract ants on purpose.

One of those groups are orchids in the genus Coryanthes. The roots of Coryanthes when fused with forest debris, become ant nests.

its a phal though. is it bad then when they have ants? it was hanging in its pot from a tree

Doesn't matter if it's a Phal, or a Coryanthes.

I got ants crawling in my Oeceoclades calcarata!

Don't bother with them. Ants have been around for a very long time, and they aren't going to disappear just because they're a pest to us.

Just do what you're supposed to do and their numbers won't get very large.

Some ants forage on fungus and farm them. Can't totally get rid of fungus, can't totally get rid of ants.

Ants do very little damage to the orchids. I've seen them chew on some flower parts, but as far as killing an orchid...most likely not.

Tough shizzle, I know.

i do have a colony on my den crumenatum pot. they protest every time i water!

I get them on my outdoor orchids as well.

They don't cause any harm in themselves and will sometimes feed on the sticky substance that orchids will sometimes give out (including Phals).

The only thing to look for, is that I remember reading that either Thrips or Mealy bugs also excreate something that is attractive to ants. As long as you check they are not the cause of the ants liking the Phal then don't worry about them.

I've no big thing about ants, but I'm not sharing my orchids with them. Get any of the ant bait products from the grocery/big box store. Get one that says it kills the colony. They work great. Put it near where you are infested and soon you won't be.

Sometimes ants farm aphids and mealy bugs.

Mealy bugs

"Regular visit of ants. Ants breed and protect mealy bugs for their honeydew secretions and may help to spread them through the collection, so to discourage any invading ants even though they are not harmful to the plants. "

Somebody call me?? :biggrin:

lol so dont be worried? im afraid of getting bit!