Help ants everywhere

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AdventurousJ

Member
Hello growers. I have a 10x8 greenhouse, I recently posted about have lots of condensation in my greenhouse. A few ppl told me to remove the grass (I left all the grass, first time growing) and to put mulch down. I do not have the funds for mulch this year, will I still be alright? Or do I need mulch. I started removing the grass today in the greenhouse and I noticed the whole thing is a ant farm! I seen lots of ants before and I tried pouring hot water on them.. nothing, maybe because I didn't pour it all over, just one spot. My plants are to big to take out of the greenhouse. So being I have a dirt floor how can I safely get rid of these ants? They are not on my leaves or plant yet but they are on the roots and all arouns the soil. Thank you. I'm worried that when my plants really start to bloom the ants will live in/ on my plants. Currently fighting spider mites also.
 

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Phytoplankton

Well-Known Member
The ants won’t hurt your leaves, but if the build a nest in you containers, they may go after the fine roots. You could spray the ground around the plants (not on them) and that should keep them away. If they’re in the pots, spray the surface of the soil in the pots, not the plants.
 
Stiickygreen

Stiickygreen

Well-Known Member
Search "Borax for killing ants". You will find recipes for cheap controls/the reasons why it works. Not instantaneous but you need/want to kill the colony not just the ants you see or they will be knocked back...then return.

Mites are the same way but they multiply every 3-7 days and will get out of hand very quickly. I haven't dealt with em on cannabis for a long time...knock on wood....so hopefully someone else has a current trick/remedy/recommendation for you. My advice would be to never believe they are truly gone and get on it ASAP.
 
taproot

taproot

Well-Known Member
AdventurousJ said:
Hello growers. I have a 10x8 greenhouse, I recently posted about have lots of condensation in my greenhouse. A few ppl told me to remove the grass (I left all the grass, first time growing) and to put mulch down. I do not have the funds for mulch this year, will I still be alright? Or do I need mulch. I started removing the grass today in the greenhouse and I noticed the whole thing is a ant farm! I seen lots of ants before and I tried pouring hot water on them.. nothing, maybe because I didn't pour it all over, just one spot. My plants are to big to take out of the greenhouse. So being I have a dirt floor how can I safely get rid of these ants? They are not on my leaves or plant yet but they are on the roots and all arouns the soil. Thank you. I'm worried that when my plants really start to bloom the ants will live in/ on my plants. Currently fighting spider mites also.
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Can you afford a cheap tarp to put down?
 
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AdventurousJ

Member
Phytoplankton said:
The ants won’t hurt your leaves, but if the build a nest in you containers, they may go after the fine roots. You could spray the ground around the plants (not on them) and that should keep them away. If they’re in the pots, spray the surface of the soil in the pots, not the plants.
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Spray with what?
 
Jjgrow420

Jjgrow420

Well-Known Member
Whenever we would get ants in our outdoor the plants always suffered. They love that loose dirt to make a colony in. Diatomaceous earth helps kill them but it isn't fast acting. Like stated above, borax is prob your best bet
 
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rijkmus1

Well-Known Member
Spinosad works on ants. Mix up 5 gallon buckets and soil drench the whole area. Can you identify what type of ants that you have. I had pavement ants living in the wall of my outdoor garden. I drenched it last year. I did not have to do it this year. No sign of their return this season.
 
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AdventurousJ

Member
rijkmus1 said:
Spinosad works on ants. Mix up 5 gallon buckets and soil drench the whole area. Can you identify what type of ants that you have. I had pavement ants living in the wall of my outdoor garden. I drenched it last year. I did not have to do it this year. No sign of their return this season.
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These are little red ants that are actually all over my yard, would you feel safe using spinosad in a green house where the air water will condensate? Thanks
 
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AdventurousJ

Member
I would like to try a tarp but am worried it would trap moister and cause mold on my ground floor which is grass/dirt. I just sprinkled ground cinnamon all over the ground/floor of my greenhouse (with my plants inside they are to big to remove). Then I poured hot water over the whole ground just a little to hopefully get the cinnamon down some ant colonies. Wish me luck fam
 
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rijkmus1

Well-Known Member
I spray spinosad on my plants. I believe that it is safe. You are going to pour it on your soil. I treat at 2oz. Per gallon. You will need more than 5 gallons to treat the whole greenhouse. I really don't believe that ants harm weed plants much. You are growing outside and can't control the environment. I would be more concerned about catipillers and boring insects.
 
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AdventurousJ

Member
rijkmus1 said:
I spray spinosad on my plants. I believe that it is safe. You are going to pour it on your soil. I treat at 2oz. Per gallon. You will need more than 5 gallons to treat the whole greenhouse. I really don't believe that ants harm weed plants much. You are growing outside and can't control the environment. I would be more concerned about catipillers and boring insects.
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Thank you very much
 
taproot

taproot

Well-Known Member
AdventurousJ said:
Wonderful yes I can do a tarp! But wouldn't mold accure between the tarp and the ground?
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Do you have a sprayer..if so I guess you could mix up a little bleach water and spay the area down before putting the tarp down. Go to youtube and look up boric acid and apple juice. It's cheap and will wipe out the entire colony. Some people use water and sugar with the acid.

https://www.reddit.com/r/lifehacks/comments/2a5ius
 
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