RE: ants

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Hi Margaret,

We have several successful solutions to getting rid of ant colonies in large pots (and elsewhere).

1.  Sprinkle powdered cinnamon on the soil in the pot.  Lots of it.  We have dollar stores in the US where large containers are very cheap.  Does not affect the plants.

2.  Boric acid baits take a few days to work but really do.  In the US, we have a product called RoachPruf/

RoachKillerIII that is nearly 100% boric or orthoboric acid.  We mix ½ teaspoon in a hot liter of water along with 3 tablespoons of sugar in a jar and fill small (large plastic bottle caps) containers and put them both at the bottom and top of the pots.   

We use the same system to keep ants out of the house.  Works great. 

Word of caution:  more boric acid is not good because it just kills the ants right there.  You want the ants to take the deadly bait back to the colony to eliminate it.

Hope your ants like this.  I would prevent the echidna from getting access to the bait as well.  We don’t have them here in California so I can’t comment further.

Cheers,

Bracey

San Jose

NorCal Branch Co-Chair,

Mediterranean Garden Society