Black ant

[pebble]

Does anyone else have a problem with black ants nesting in your pots?

I’ve found lately when I’ve lifted pots from the bench, that there are heaps of ants coming out.

They don’t seam to be causing any problems for my trees. Just annoying when I go to work on them.

Is there a way of getting rid of them? Confidor hasn’t seamed to work




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[tgward]

sink it in a tub of water for a couple of hours --then again two or three days later

[Raging Bull]

I've been frustrated by the pesky little black ants all summer. I've tried sprinkling ant sand around the pots and on the benches, but it's only a temporary measure. The problem with the black ants is that they cultivate aphids and scale insects, feeding on their secretions. They will carry these insects and put them on your plants, which is another pest to get rid of. Good luck with managing the little buggers.
Cheers, Frank.

[KIRKY]

A couple of drops of ant rid into a stubbie cap or something similar first thing after watering on the bench or top of pot etc... they will drink it up and take it back to their nests in the pots job done. Just pick the cap up before watering next time and replace until they are gone.
Small bottle from Coles or the green shed etc... not expensive from memory.
Cheers
Kirky

[shibui]

sink it in a tub of water for a couple of hours --then again two or three days later

This works when you have a small number of pots. You may find you need to drown them for more than a couple of hours. Ants seem to be able to hold their breath for a long time or maybe have hidden pockets of air in the tunnels.

A couple of drops of ant rid into a stubbie cap or something similar

In the same section are bait stations in small plastic disks that are water resistant and should do an even better job.

Ants don't damage the plant directly but they do dig tunnels in the potting mix which is then space the roots can't love. Also the added pest problem that R Bull has noted.

[MJL]

I have been using ant dust in and around my bins and anywhere else I see the little fellas. One sprinkle of that fair dust and they seem to disappear within a day or two. I suppose trickier around Bonsai with regular watering.


Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[TimS]

Found a hoard of ants getting into cahoots with aphids on some camellias annoyingly close to my trees today. Cut the offending branch off and chucked it in the bin.

I feel like ants have been more active around my trees this year than i remember for the last few, but i have no real evidence of that. They go mental for my pelletised fertiliser and i have to bury in the pot it otherwise i have ants crawling all over it in a matter of minutes.

[Marie Hewartson]

I had this problem a few years back and was put onto Condys Crystals. (Potassium Permanganate)
A small amount into a bucket of water (you want a light purple colour) and soak pots.
Tree were fine and NO ANTS!
Cheers Marie

[Redsonic]

I had this problem a few years back and was put onto Condys Crystals. (Potassium Permanganate)
A small amount into a bucket of water (you want a light purple colour) and soak pots.
Tree were fine and NO ANTS!
Cheers Marie

Condys Crystals are hard to come by these days as they are one of the ingredients of home made explosives

[Beano]

You can get it at chemist warehouse. Used for treatment of severe dermatitis. You only get a tiny amount (50g) but you don’t need much to get the level of purple tint required in the water.