Pellet insect killer in Planters?

[CJ_IS_HERE]

Anyone have an first hand experience in using pellet to kill ants in a planter? I've been seeing more ants frequently strolling up and down several planters I have on the deck. I don't see any other pests to indicate infestation. Wondering if I used lawn pellet considering boo is a grass...maybe this would keep them away and get rid of the home-steaders.

Thanks

[BooKing]

It seems ants like moist areas or containers and considering "we all" keep our bamboos well nourished and watered it's likely a good dwelling place for those Bast@rds , err I mean ants...I do have a huge quantity of Preying mantis however and the ants are like "finger sandwiches" to them.

[Iowaboo]

I would hate to be playing "honey, I shrunk the kids" in your yard, booking.

[CJ_IS_HERE]

Have a couple manti you'd be willing to ship? haha Probably wouldn't make the trip...

I stress my Buddhas by not watering as often... that forces the mutated culms even more.

I'm gonna try the pellet treatment and see what happens.
Take care

[magsc21]

Don't know how you feel about strong chemicals, but I have had a lot of success with "Ortho Max" sprinkled liberally on my container garden plants. We have a real fire ant problem, there is nothing quite like trying to water a plant and having ants swarm up your arm.

It's supposed to kill fire ants, but it will make short work of most ants, and seems to be very effective in containers with a relatively small dose.

[CJ_IS_HERE]

Thanks Mag, thats what I have on hand... I put a pinch in each planter and watered a little just to prevent the wind from taking it away. Figured if it works on the Lawn... might do well for the boos too.
Thanks

[Impaler]

I don't have anything in planters except for some kimmei divisions, but I use Amdro in the yard with good results. But, don't water right after! It will dilute the "goodies" into the ground and they won't take it into the mound.

JMO,
Dan

[magsc21]

I second the recommendation for not watering it, and suggest you put in out in the early evening when they are foraging, as you really only get one good day out of it because the active ingredient decomposes quite quickly in high heat or sun.

[Mike McG]

My recollection is that a few years ago at a bamboo meeting, one of the gardeners at Mercer Arboretum mentioned they had had a problem with fire ants in the pots in their greenhouses. He had heard about using molasses to get rid of them, tried it and it worked so well he started using it on his farm. He used a very dilute solution, a couple of ounces in a gallon, of agricultural molasses, not the molasses you buy in the store that has been processed for human consumption. I think the theory is that it promotes the growth of something (mold or fungi?) that does not agree with the fire ants, and the processed stuff is too refined. Probably worth a trial if you want to avoid pesticides.

I used to use chlordane every Spring and it was very very effective against ants but its use has been controlled since about the mid 1980s, and I do not think you can get it anymore.

Mike near Brenham TX

[rob e]

I recently purchased a product by Garden-ville, called
anti fuego soil conditioner that contains orange oil, molasses
and humate.
haven't used it yet but i will let you know how it works.

[BOOMAN]

Try This:

[CJ_IS_HERE]

Booman... I'm gonna try the mixture...sounds like a salsa dish in the making

Do you just spray it all over the plants that have visible ants or is it a preventative too?
Thanks

[BOOMAN]

Just go crazy with it ....

[Iowaboo]

It is 'natural' ... sort of ... I think some people use this stuff in dips & chips.

Tell that to this guy............