Amdro...

Yeah, Amdro on the ground, Neem oil sprayed on the plants and potting soil in particular.

Just dump the pot out somewhere outside. The ants will stay with their eggs and queen, and will find somewhere outside to hole up. Shake out the root ball too.

I wouldn't mess with Amdro. You've already taken care of the problem.

Dennis

There are several pesticides that will kill ants. However, I would try a couple alternatives first. I have heard that cinnamon will deter them (make them leave your pot). There may be other more natural remedies as well. I am not an environmentalist nut by any means, and I detest ants, but if I am trying to rid them from an area that I have edible plants growing, I would try to stay away from chemical pesticides if possible. Giving cinnamon or something else a try can't hurt.
Bruce

I read a trick not too long ago that I haven't tried yet- put the entire pot into a larger container and fill both with water. Put a stick of some type from the edge of the pot to the edge of the larger container and the ants will use it as a bridge to get out.

Let's, for argument's sake, consider WHY the ants are there in the first place.

My answer-- probably aphids. So, check for aphids. If present, control the aphids, control the ants. If no aphids, just keep flooding them and they'll eventually move on.

Pesticides? Amdro, Terro. Both are boric acid baits which supposedly work great. Just not on SoCal ants. Rhizo1 from the garden Clinic forum did say there were some granules(outdoor usage only) made by Amdro that she says works really well though. There's supposedly some beneficial nematodes that work also. In the case of container growing though, I would find them to be cost prohibitive.

Kevin

I hate to hurt ants (tiny black ones). They are not vegetarians and do not cause any harm to plants. But I just find them annoying (psychological).. I would try cinnamon , as suggested by Bruce, to deter them and send them away to somewhere else.

Seysonn

And then there's Fireants... the ant that will hurt you first given half a chance.

A rancher friend had a couple large pecan trees topple from a storm. We found that fireants had completely destroyed the root system in each tree. So we treated his grove with nematodes and watched the dead ants pile up under the trees. Twenty years later the rest of the pecans are still standing.

In my own yard I have a couple mesquite trees that have a couple large dead limbs. I've been putting off cutting them down since I know there will be fireant nests in them. You need a very fast chainsaw to get the job done before they get you. And believe me, they want to get you.

I hate fireants with a passion, but will let most other ants be as long as they stay outside. Then there's the leaf cutters...

This post was edited by mecdave on Thu, Oct 30, 14 at 8:21

Fire ants are another story entirely.

On fire ants, use fire. Also weapons of mass destruction. Also social pressure.

Whatever it takes, morality be damned.

Dennis

P.S. Be sure they are fire ants. I've heard several types improperly called "fire ants", including the big red ones. True fire ants are little, brown, and evil looking.

Lots of plant extracts (essential oils) will be repellent to ants - cinammon oil, clove oil, garlic oil, mints, citrus. Many of these are easily obtainable in nurseries or home improvement stores as organic pest controls.