On 25/07/2012 18:56, Astrog wrote:
Hi all,

I have an orange tree, in a pot grown from a pip 30 years ago. It
normally lives indoors, this is in Scotland.

However we moved house, and I put it outside for a while, it got
infested with ants. So now I cannot bring it in because the wife is not
to keen on ants in her dining room.

Any ideas on how to get rid of the ants and not kill the tree ?

Astrog



The ants are there to 'farm' 'honeydew' excreta from aphids or scale
insects on your orange tree. If the aphid pests disappear, so will the
ants. Use a systemic insecticide to kill the pests. Then, if the
leaves or stems are still sticky from that excreta, wash the plant down
with a rose attachment on a watering can or a gentle spray from a hose.
Once dry, it should be safe to bring indoors.

!NB!: If the plant has oranges which you eat, you may have to try a
soap solution to wash both pests and excreta off. It is not safe to use
a systemic insecticide on plants you intend to eat .. or parts thereof.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay