AusBonsai

How do you kill the ants without harming the tree?

Where can you buy this white oil or alcohol to mix it into a spray?

dansai wrote:Also check for ants in your pot. Ants farm scale and aphids, providing good conditions for them to multiply in the soil and then carry them up onto the plant. This provides them with a source of sugar in the form of honeydew secreted by sap sucking insects. You can remove the pest from the plant and the ants will just bring more up. If there are ants you need to get rid of them too.

Thanks didnt think of ants.

Inspired wrote:How do you kill the ants without harming the tree?

Where can you buy this white oil or alcohol to mix it into a spray?

In the past I have just put the whole pot in water and drowned the ants...
Any gardening place will have white oil,confidor etc

Ross

Inspired wrote:

How do you kill the ants without harming the tree?

A lttle Pyrethrum in the watering can and ther gone!

treeman wrote:

Inspired wrote:

How do you kill the ants without harming the tree?

A lttle Pyrethrum in the watering can and ther gone!

Common treeman, you know all bonsai enthusiasts don't just add a little of something, it must be a precise measurement. So what is it, 5ml per liter

Looks like im loosing this battle, pretty disheartened at the moment have tried everything including copper spray but this tree still seems to be loosing more branches

Here is a shot from the top.

stocaz wrote:Here is a shot from the top.

Hi Ross,
Have you checked for Curl Grub?

Regards Ray

Ray M wrote:

stocaz wrote:Here is a shot from the top.

Hi Ross,
Have you checked for Curl Grub?

Regards Ray

Hi Ray,
I havn't seen any but i will have a more thorough look now, all of my Trees are in a diatomite zeolite mix except this one so it may be curl grub

Would it be worth repoting into a diatomite mix anyway ?
or maybe not as it would do more harm than good as the tree is obviously under some stress.

cheers Ross

I would say those branches were covered from other branches and did not receive enough sunlight which tells the tree to begin the sacrificial process.

Looking at those photos, I think they'll come back in time as long as you give it enough sunlight and tlc

Inspired wrote:I would say those branches were covered from other branches and did not receive enough sunlight which tells the tree to begin the sacrificial process.

Looking at those photos, I think they'll come back in time as long as you give it enough sunlight and tlc

Im not convinced its a lack of sun thing, after i started loosing the first branch (the 2 branches in question were still healthy) i put the tree in full sun all day,foliage feeding, i have been extra vigilant with watering etc, feel like im chasing my tail and nothing seems to be helping with this tree...

stocaz wrote:

Ray M wrote:

stocaz wrote:Here is a shot from the top.

Hi Ross,
Have you checked for Curl Grub?

Regards Ray

Hi Ray,
I havn't seen any but i will have a more thorough look now, all of my Trees are in a diatomite zeolite mix except this one so it may be curl grub

Would it be worth repoting into a diatomite mix anyway ?
or maybe not as it would do more harm than good as the tree is obviously under some stress.

cheers Ross

Hi Ross,
I agree with you mate. If you are going to check for Curl Grubs, I would soak the tree in a tub to make sure the soil is very wet. This helps to keep the soil together. Let the excess water run off. If you could gently remove the tree and have a good look, then replace the tree. I know I will get in trouble from our Japanese friends for my next suggestion. After replacing the tree I use a hose to get the soil down around the roots. If you have lost some soil, just add more and wash it down around the roots with a hose. I haven't used chop sticks, for getting the soil down around the roots, for many years. I believe there is much less damage to the roots by washing the soil down around the roots.

Regards Ray

.This is a common problem with Squamata's and i have suffered this on several occasions. It is a fungal problem with this type of Juni. I have sprayed mine with copper sulphate with success. Have a look if they develop a little brown ball on the tip. 10 mm per litre from memory.

bodhidharma wrote:.This is a common problem with Squamata's and i have suffered this on several occasions. It is a fungal problem with this type of Juni. I have sprayed mine with copper sulphate with success. Have a look if they develop a little brown ball on the tip. 10 mm per litre from memory.

I think your on the money, just took her out of the pot and definitely no curl grubs.... I did spray with copper about 2 weeks ago, should i re apply a few times ?

Cheers Ross

Yep, I sprayed every third/fourth day for two weeks, the tree survived well.