Ants living in 5gal buckets? Removal?

ChocoKush

ChocoKush

Well-Known Member
Hey there i have a few plants out door in 5gal buckets and prob 3 feet tall looking nice and i had labels stuck in the dirt and the watering of rain etc pushed em down in the dirt so i was digging about 3-4 inches into dirty of the bucket to get the label back to the top so i know what plant im working with and i scooped my hand into a ant colony it freaked me out at first as there was crap load of ants all over my hand lol but they where tiny black ants.. what way is there to get rid of them if they come back or in the another buckets i have? I scooped them out of the one i found them in so there gone out of that one. Any help will be good!! Thanks!

Edit:
Also would they kill the plant or be a danger to my grow?
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
I've seen lots of articles about getting rid of ants with cinnamon. Some say it works, and others (like exterminators) disagree.

Just do an in Internet search for "repelling ants in garden with cinnamon"
 
cannabineer

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
ChocoKush said:
Hey there i have a few plants out door in 5gal buckets and prob 3 feet tall looking nice and i had labels stuck in the dirt and the watering of rain etc pushed em down in the dirt so i was digging about 3-4 inches into dirty of the bucket to get the label back to the top so i know what plant im working with and i scooped my hand into a ant colony it freaked me out at first as there was crap load of ants all over my hand lol but they where tiny black ants.. what way is there to get rid of them if they come back or in the another buckets i have? I scooped them out of the one i found them in so there gone out of that one. Any help will be good!! Thanks!

Edit:
Also would they kill the plant or be a danger to my grow?
Click to expand...
I suspect the ants are helping, not hurting.
 
bruno8437

bruno8437

Well-Known Member
Mix borax with sugar. The borax will kill the ants and is safe for the plants pets etc. The sugar is just used ot attract the ants and make it so they will carry it back to the colony. Not sweet enough and they won't make it back to the colony to share.
 
Z

z3rgling

Well-Known Member
Boric acid mixed with sugar does work. Mix it with just enough water to dissolve. If u don't want to make your own, buy some terro. Drip it onto some bread or cake on a bit of parchment paper n set it in your pot. Keep it dry n let the ants feast. it will knock out the whole colony in a week or two.
 
Odin*

Odin*

Well-Known Member
cannabineer said:
In that case allow me to express my disbelief. Until I see plain work showing ants hurt, I'm accepting them as collaborators. Especially since they control known weed parasites.
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Right. Meanwhile, the ants are “farming” root aphids and transporting them to “un-colonized” cannabis near by.

OP, I chimed in to suggest looking for the aphids that are likely there. If not, get rid of the ants because they will bring aphids (yes, literally carry aphids to your plants with the intent of aiding colonization). Aphids secrete a sweet substance (called “Honey Dew”) from their asses, ants love that shit.
 
cannabineer

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
LinguaPeel said:
The science of reality and observation: Ants steal exudates and fuck up the rhizo. Do your own science if yo need 100% proof. Or use yer noggin
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This is the classic un-answer and thus an insult. If you won't or can't marshal facts to advance an argument, all you're doing is championing sentiment.
 
Nrk.cdn

Nrk.cdn

Well-Known Member
I second the borax..sugar.. I use teaspoon borax..5 tablespoons icing sugar (disolves easier).. Add boiling water..let it cool..add cotton balls to a small container protected by outdoor conditions..replenish every 3 days..it is like "the last supper" for them..i have cleared out colonies with 100% effectiveness..
 
JSB99

JSB99

Well-Known Member
I imagine if ants were beneficial, you'd be able to buy them from the local grow shop, like ladybugs. But, for the past 10+ years, I haven't seen any information supporting the benefits of ants in the garden.

"Add ants" also doesn't seem to be the solution for any issue having to do with growing.
 
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