Heat, ants = dead & dying plants

[Susanne]

I think I’ve messed up totally this time!

We’ve had 100-108 temps every day since late June. It robbed the plants of Potassium & I tried Fox Farm Big Bloom & Tiger Bloom. Only found after lots of searching that the heat causes loss of Potassium. So,st trying. Any suggestions would be great.

Now, with that in mind, I kept treating for that.
Then, found ants in one pot, panicked & applied insecticide IN the soil…..BIG oops . Killed that one. Next, there were two more with ants, so I looked it up & applied cinnamon……no help. Next day, did the corn meal……so, the following day, EVERY pot had ants everywhere……

Now, two more died from ants within one more day. I’ve looked up what I could find & no more help. I had 33 plants growing & now I think I’ll lose them all. There are so few leaves left & only buds at the tops, ……

They are pitiful, to say t least. The l that are still green are droopy & dry. The photos don’t show the entire plant

is there anything else I can do?

My husband suggested Andro & i don’t know. Can it be used?

 

[ProPheT 216]

Put some of this dust on your plant stalk and lower leaves. It's like crawling thru razors for bugs. Cuts em up and dries em out. Reapply daily or after plants get wet until bugs are gone

 

[Kerowacked]

Heat stress, the soil temp is near the air temp in those bags. If the black bags are in direct sun the temp is over 140

 

[HandyGringo]

Put some of this dust on your plant stalk and lower leaves. It's like crawling thru razors for bugs. Cuts em up and dries em out. Reapply daily or after plants get wet until bugs are gone

Agree with this advice. DE dust on the soil is great for making sure nothing climbs your plant and that eggs, larva, etc from the soil, can't survive.

Generally, ants are a symptom rather than the primary problem, as far as I know. Have you checked for other pests? Ants tend to feed on smaller insects on plants

 

[ProPheT 216]

You can find the d.e. at a local feed and seed type store if you don't want to wait for shipping @Susanne

 

[Susanne]

Agree with this advice. DE dust on the soil is great for making sure nothing climbs your plant and that eggs, larva, etc from the soil, can't survive.

Generally, ants are a symptom rather than the primary problem, as far as I know. Have you checked for other pests? Ants tend to feed on smaller insects on plants

I looked for other pests & none found. I read about the Aphids I think, however nothing found. So, I’ll try the Diatomaceous dust.

Thank you all for your suggestions

 

[7CardBud]

I would move all the plants, since the nests may also continue underground. Then apply diatomaceous earth underneath as well.

 

[Drop That Sound]

Follow the ants trail back to the nest, and suck the entire colony up with a shop vac. Could take awhile depending on how big.. unless you dig down in (or tear open walls or wherever the nest is to really get at em), and just let the vacuum run for a few days over the holes which is kind of annoying. Then you can just dump them out in the woods somewhere if you want.

 

[Susanne]

I would move all the plants, since the nests may also continue underground. Then apply diatomaceous earth underneath as well.

Sounds good, however we have livestock, wild animals (including raccoons, which ‘ate’ two last year), so we have an electric fence with chicken or similar fencing material 3 f up to keep them all out. The 33 plants I started with take up all the room. No place to move them .

thanks for the suggestion. It may help in the future

 

[Susanne]

Follow the ants trail back to the nest, and suck the entire colony up with a shop vac. Could take awhile depending on how big.. unless you dig down in (or tear open walls or wherever the nest is to really get at em), and just let the vacuum run for a few days over the holes which is kind of annoying. Then you can just dump them out in the woods somewhere if you want.

They’re in pots which ALL have ants now

 

[Susanne]

You can find the d.e. at a local feed and seed type store if you don't want to wait for shipping @Susanne

Husband is getting today. Hope tomorrow isn’t too late. By the time he gets home, it’ll be about 106-7 degrees, I can’t go out when it’s that hot due to illness.

 

[ProPheT 216]

If all else fails this is a guaranteed success lol

 

[vithzirea]

Surprisingly, molasses will run ants right out of the pots. and you will get a little cal, mag, iron, and potassium. I think the ratio was one or 2 tbsp per gallon. i remember using 2 i think.