GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

04-11-2003, 02:02 PM

(gal) wrote in message . com...
Hello,

I grow my orchids inside the house and recently there are ants all
over them. I do not want to spray with chemicals ? what is a natural
ant repellent I could use without causing damage to the plants.

Also, I noticed my Catallya produces some sort of sweet liquid that
the ants like. Why would the plant "want" ants crawling on it when it
is out of bloom?

Are you sure there aren't aphids or scale insects producing sugary
wastes that ants like?

Protection from other pests is one benefit orchids get from close
association with ants. Ants are ruthlessly territorial and will drive
off
or kill other insects intruding on their territory.

Some orchids derive other benefits from ants. Coryanthes species
thrive with ant colonies around their roots; the ants seems to provide
nourishment through their droppings. It supposedly is hard to get
these orchids to grow well ant-free.

Schomburgkia (Myrmecophilia) species have hollow psuedobulbs that are
colonized by rather fierce ants which rush out and sting or bite
anything that disturbs the plants.

J. Del Col