Ants….. nothing working!

Week4@inCharge

Well-Known Member
Ants in your plants ?

Some ant activity can be beneficial at times since they help control other pesky insects , eggs , etc.
‘They also help oxygenate the soil with burrowing. They eat aphids and other types of insects since they are always scavenging for a meal.
However , if ant population is extreme - you have some options .

Terro as stated above or similar boric acid / sugar solution.
Vinegar spray to top soil ( deterrent )
Cedarcide ( ground cedar 100% ) - adding a thin top layer to container is a natural way to deal with not only ants but even mites !
Spinosad spray ( Capt. Jacks ) is a great RTU garden friendly spray for a host of common garden pests.

I would look for less heavy duty chemical methods like particular lawn granules or bifethrin loaded chemicals as many are for ornamental plant use only.
I'm in the same boat right now with some ants in an empty 4x2 raised pot right now and see that they like to feed on leaf miners. And we hate leaf miners munching on our cannabis. I have Amdro granules on hand if things get out of control. I'll try apple cider vinegar (couple tablespoons to a gallon of water mix) before dropping some napalm (Amdro Granules) on them for sure.
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Susanne

Well-Known Member
I'm in the same boat right now with some ants in an empty 4x2 raised pot right now and see that they like to feed on leaf miners. And we hate leaf miners munching on our cannabis. I have Amdro granules on hand if things get out of control. I'll try apple cider vinegar (couple tablespoons to a gallon of water mix) before dropping some napalm (Amdro Granules) on them for sure.
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It turned out the ants I had are probably sugar ants. Really small. smaller than fire ants, so the Amdro & diatomaceous earth didn’t work. Borax & sugar did, but don’t know what other ants would be affected.
good luck. My crop was reduced to almost nothing as I didn’t see them until they caused damage
 

Week4@inCharge

Well-Known Member
It turned out the ants I had are probably sugar ants. Really small. smaller than fire ants, so the Amdro & diatomaceous earth didn’t work. Borax & sugar did, but don’t know what other ants would be affected.
good luck. My crop was reduced to almost nothing as I didn’t see them until they caused damage
Crazy, was the damage from the tunnels underneath?
 

Week4@inCharge

Well-Known Member
Spinosad soil drench is what I used last year in my vegetable garden. I have not seen many yet this year. I use Bifenthrin on my lawn and around my house foundation. I would not use Bifenthrin on anything I eat or smoke.
This is what is on the Amdro website about their red ant formula...

"Amdro Fire Ant Killer for Mounds™ is hydramethylnon which has very low toxicity to people, animals and birds. When used according to the label we wouldn't expect any problems to your pets."

But still not safe to use on "vegetable" gardens. I might just spread it outside the tent instead of inside.
 

rijkmus1

Well-Known Member
This is what is on the Amdro website about their red ant formula...

"Amdro Fire Ant Killer for Mounds™ is hydramethylnon which has very low toxicity to people, animals and birds. When used according to the label we wouldn't expect any problems to your pets."

But still not safe to use on "vegetable" gardens. I might just spread it outside the tent instead of inside.
Are the ants coming in from the outside. Can you locate there home. Bifen is the answer if you are treating surfaces. It is like hitting them with the Russian Novachuck nerve drug. But for insects.
 

Week4@inCharge

Well-Known Member
Are the ants coming in from the outside. Can you locate there home. Bifen is the answer if you are treating surfaces. It is like hitting them with the Russian Novachuck nerve drug. But for insects.
My 4x2 tent is filled with a 4x2 raised bed, and up against a wall. Most likely, and most probable, they're coming from outside. So I'm gonna surround the tent with the Amdro... Shits about to get real
 

rijkmus1

Well-Known Member
My 4x2 tent is filled with a 4x2 raised bed, and up against a wall. Most likely, and most probable, they're coming from outside. So I'm gonna surround the tent with the Amdro... Shits about to get real
The Amdro product you listed is for outdoor use and needs watered in. I skimmed over the label. Not familiar with this product. If you can not rule out that the ants are coming from your raised bed soil or medium. I would do a spinosad soil drench. Can you identify what type of ants that you have. When you say tent do you mean grow tent.
 
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Week4@inCharge

Well-Known Member
The Amdro product you listed is for outdoor use and needs watered in. I skimmed over the label. Not familiar with this product. If you can not rule out that the ants are coming from your raised bed soil or medium. I would do a spinosad soil drench. Can you identify what type of ants that you have. When you say tent do you mean grow tent.
I read the label and it saying not to water in and to use on dry surface. I do have Spinosad. Might try that after the vinegar drench. The Amdro will be for outside the tent. I can see a line of ants coming from outside to inside the tent. Not sure how'd they get in there otherwise?
 
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rijkmus1

Well-Known Member
You are correct I must have read wrong or it was another product. I am leary about using vinegar in my soil as I feel it will likely cause a change in the Ph. I have pets so I prefer a perimeter spray with Bifenthrin. It is probably much cheaper but only kill the insects that come in contact with the treated surface. And is safe once dry. It also can be used indoors but I never had the need to use it inside. Good luck .
 

compassionateExotic

Well-Known Member
I’ve tried sooo many organic and non and this product worked best. my issue also besides the ants work with aphids is they will steal my organic material aka top dressing…

For freebie bait container . Get a plastic bottle, cut a hole in it, make two of them, for two diff modes/attrative traps



if you don’t wanna make ur own trap container, the pro to this u can have both gel and tha granular in same trap
 

Blue_Focus

Well-Known Member
Get some Borax soap and mix a tiny amount with a little more sugar and a small amount of water. Put it in a small lid and set it close to where the ants are.

They will eat the sugar and take it back to their nest.

For more info, Search YouTube for Borax and Ants.

It got rid of my ant problem in my house.
 
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