Ants

MisoHi

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2007

• #1

Hello all, I have been infested with Sugar Ants all over my house. I picked up some traps so hopefully that will do the trick. My question is: Do these Ants pose any threat to my grow? I noticed one day when I was watering that there were a good concentration of Ants around my grow area and I could of swore that a few popped out of the soil when I watered my plant...

 

green_nobody

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2007

• #2

well not directly as long they are not leave cutter ones but if the start to nest in your soil they cut roots to make space... this would be a big one

make some tobacco tea for them, i never tried it on ants but it kills most bugs like a hex also watch out that you keep the grow clean, leave no food for them. and watch out, in nature they are sometimes attracted by leave lice

 

mogie

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2007

• #3

I read a tip a while ago about using Pottasium Permanganate (Condy's Crystals)to control ants. Decided to give it a go. You can get PP at Chemists or some Supermarkets. You only use minute amount and mix it with plain water (just a few grains - enough to turn the water a pale to mid pink, not so much that the water goes purple to opaque). Then just water into the soil.

For me this has worked like a charm. AND IT WORKS ON WHITE ANTS, TOO. Keeps all sorts of ants out of the soil and away from the roots. Didn't harm plants at all.

 

videoman40

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2007

• #4

Another good reason to use co2, it kills bugs.

 

MisoHi

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2007

• #5

Awesome. Thanks for the quick replies! I have been keeping the area clean(er) after that initial sighting and things seem to be better (only been a week or so) and with the traps, hopefully the Ants will not be a problem. If the Ants reform for another strike, I will try those suggestions you guys posted. Again, thanks for the help.

 

green_nobody

Well-Known Member

• Mar 20, 2007

• #6

Potassium Permanganate is a oxidant in chemistry mogie... oh well its used as water disinfection as well, but mixed with glycerin KMnO4 gives´a nice oxidation fuze, hot enough to start thermite mixes poor ants

oh, and by the way, KMnO4 is on the DEA watch list! so let a friend buy it for you since they may ask for id's. and it is listed as substance harmful to the environment...

 

VictorVIcious

Well-Known Member

• Mar 21, 2007

• #7

I had ants once. When I had to move my first grow outside. The funny thing was they didn't seem to cause any problem. If anyone has every had an ant farm you have seen the wqy they get around. All those small tunnels. Seemed to help with drainage. When I moved them back inside I just put a few ant traps around and they haven't been back since.

 

MisoHi

Well-Known Member

• Mar 22, 2007

• #8

Yah, I didn't think these guys would cause any real problem. The cutters comment tripped me out for a bit though. Its just the idea of having bugs around my babies .. BUGS! It seemed, I dunno, dirty or something. Like my babies were getting tainted by bug dander or something... The traps do seem to be working now, so all is good.