Ants in my plants

jaibyrd7

jaibyrd7

Well-Known Member
I went out to water a plant on my patio this afternoon and it looked like hundreds of little black sugar ants came pouring out of the soil carrying babies. I gave it a good flush until no more were coming out, then fed her again. Its organic soil and last week she got molasses. So im sure thats why they were there. Any gardeners ever have trouble with ants in your pots? Any way to keep them away (thinking about a moat with a drip pan)? Does anyone know what damage, if any, they will do to the root sysyem?
 
jaibyrd7

jaibyrd7

Well-Known Member
leather lungs said:
Ants usually are there if you have aphids. They love the honeydew that is secreted from aphids. They collect it.
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The ants showed up almost overnight, hundreds maybe thousands, lol. I looked her over in detail (shes tiny) with a 40x and no aphids. Today i discovered they are in every flower pot i have outside, so i dont think it was her attracting them as much as they are just looking for somewhere to nest. I can set her drip pan in another bigger pan with water in it, i dont think theyll cross. But im wondering if they tear anything up while theure in there. She doesnt look like she cares at all.
 
chemphlegm

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
they farm those little ones like bees tending their honey, they protect them fiercely, move them to and fro, even from plant to plant.
they separate, feed, and feed from all day and night.
dont kill the ants, kill the aphids.

ants do spread some fungus here and there but the aphids will rid your plants of proper health if left alone.
war is easy with these bstards
 
chemphlegm

chemphlegm

Well-Known Member
stop the molasses, plants dont eat molasses but pests love the shit. its great in pot roasts for best results use it in the kitchen.

if you need to use it in the garden then use it in your compost on your plant area, a drop in a cup of water, to feed bacteria. but its just not necessary in there either and can actually mess the balance up in there too. i think this shit comes from hippie days before proper nutrients were available like magnesium, thats where you get the sweets from if you're lacking in the first place.

good luck
 
jaibyrd7

jaibyrd7

Well-Known Member
Im really just wondering if ants will damage my roots. Got 2 weeks left. Just trying to decide whether or not to fool with it. Has anyone had any experience with ant damage?
 
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