Ants!!!!

xcolo1 · #1 04-15-2008, 07:24 PM

I found 3 ants around my plants today. I was wondering if anybody could tell me if I need to worry. Where I live in the hotter months everyone has ants. Nothing you can really do about it.

growinman · #2 04-15-2008, 07:34 PM

Diatomateous earth controls: Ants, Cockroaches, Earwigs, Fleas, Mites, Spiders, Bed Bugs and almost all other crawling insects. It is fossilized shells(flour), is safe, and works great for many other pests than listed. It's like millions of razor blades to crawlers, soft bodied pests. 'Safer' has it at HD for less than $10 a sack.

Good Luck! There are many other things you can use too......ants are easy!

growinman

Seamaiden · #3 04-15-2008, 07:47 PM

You are correct about how to use diatomaceous earth. It's fossilized diatoms, and if I recollect is nice because it's silica-based, not calcareous (silica won't change your pH).
Diatomaceous earth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

Pest control

Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the cuticle, the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. Beekeepers are apparently experimenting with it, to keep small hive beetles from breeding. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical-grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation. This material has wide application in control of insects of grain storage.
Among the disadvantages of using diatomaceous earth for pest control include the health risk to humans (see below), and that it is harmful to the many insects that are beneficial to gardens, including predatory beetles and bugs and many detritivores.

Oh yeah, I fucking HATE ants, especially those Argentinian ants you find down in SoCal by the BILLIONS. They drive me NUTS. Our mountain ants are much better (a lot fewer) because they make war on each other and keep their own numbers in check.

xcolo1 · #4 04-15-2008, 07:57 PM

NICE thanks a lot for the advice! I'm switching all over to 5gal. tomorrow so I'll pick some up. Is it safe for the smoke?

Seamaiden · #5 04-15-2008, 08:13 PM

Yes, just don't smoke it with the DE actually still on it. You might want to read the whole Wiki link, as there are health issues for humans if DE is misused.

xcolo1 · #6 04-15-2008, 08:21 PM

Yeah I'm just going to use it as an additive in my medium, I just wanted to make sure the plants wouldn't soak up something harmful or be detremental to the tasteof my AK's and Diesel's

Seamaiden · #7 04-15-2008, 08:24 PM

No, I don't think anything like that. I didn't read the whole Wiki all the way through, but it appears that there is issues with getting DE in the lungs.

growinman · #8 04-16-2008, 10:59 AM

DE is odorless and nontoxic. For ants just sprinkle a light layer of it around the bottoms of your plants, on the floor or ground.
This stuff is used in grains, rice, most things that get stored for any amount of time....We eat it(food grade). Notice how your corn meal doesn't come with weavels anymore?? There are differernt grades of it...you just need to watch if other things have been added to it....
OSHA: Diatomaceous Earth: A soft siliceous solid composed of skeletons of small prehistoric aquatic plants. Contains primarily silica. Silica: Group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Amorphous Silica)

I would think to be too worried about this stuff would compare to living in a bubble for fear of what may be in the air....and is most surely safer than any pot you'll ever smoke.

DE is amazing stuff, is totally natural----the uses are endless.....

xcolo1 · #9 04-16-2008, 07:07 PM

once again another problem solved through rollitup