Are red ants a problem???

[thechurchman]

Hi guys I dug the soil in my grow area to test the ph (which is fine) but when I went back the next day the upturned soil had hundreds of red ants in and under it. Will this cause a problem to my plants planting in this area? Ive read somewhere that they will eat the stalk and dig tunnels around the roots so that they cant suck the water, does anyone have any experience of these little and know if they really are a problem or not?

 

[ballabuds]

I would start looking for a new spot...A grower friend of mine had nothing but issues during the entire grow and ended up yieliding maybe 20-25% of what he had in prior years.

 

[fishheadbob]

Try elsewhere. Ants will probably kill your plants; nothing good can happen.

 

[Habibi]

ants are easily controlled, throw diatemecous earth all around the planting area and you wont see ants there again.

 

[luciano28]

The very first hole I went to dig this year was full of red ants after one shovel full, I just went and found a new spot. Not sure if they hurt the plant or not but I wasnt messing around with them.

 

[trichburner]

ants are easily controlled, throw diatemecous earth all around the planting area and you wont see ants there again.

This if you don't have anywhere else to grow .

Only other option is to replace the soil with your own mix . But you have to make sure dig up the entire colony and relocate the old dirt/ants a few yards away , otherwise they come back . You won't have to dig deep as most insects don't go below 8" of soil .


Ants will chew on seedlings (they love the sugars) . They can also introduce other pests and disease .

 

[thechurchman]

Im going to put plant pots with the bottom cut off into the ground then fill with my own soil mix of peat,perlite and vermiculite. I wont be planting in the hole I dug, just in the same area. The plants will be about 4 weeks old when I plant them if this helps

Just need to know that when I do plant my babys (and my first crop outdoors) they arent going to be invaded and eaten alive

 

[trichburner]

That does help . Once the plants are big enough , the ants will leave them alone . From my experience , usually after the third or fourth week .

 

[BigWillyDee]

i read that dry molasses can be used to successfully control ants.....

actually this is what i read

First of all ants are monoculture, they do not like competition and so the key is to introduce a competitive force such as beneficial nematodes to attack the pupas of the ants.

By broadcasting dry molasses before you apply your nematodes you are actually providing a food source for the nematodes.