50,000 Freeloaders

My master bath came with this lovely little greenhouse window that looks out onto the backyard.  I quickly made that the new home for my potted plants, since I made the move in December and didn't want my greenery to go into shock on the front porch.  My plants have always been very sensitive to change, like their caretaker, so I thought this would be a nice nesting spot for them.  They get plenty of sun and a light, daily misting from the shower steam.  It is a very symbiotic relationship, considering the ventilation exhaust goes directly into the attic (as was discovered during the home inspection). When the former owners put in the extension off the back, thus creating a separate second attic, they failed to divert the exhaust pipe to the exterior of the building.  Therefore, my asparagus fern, lovingly named Harvey, soaks in the majority of the moisture, as does Felicia (the philodendron) and Cornelius (the corn plant).  The only one who doesn't seem to appreciate the new pad is Octavia, the orchid.  She's kind of difficult to please.

Left to right: Felicia, Cornelius, Octavia & Harvey

A few weeks ago I noticed that Harvey had a growth spurt and two new stalks were pushed up against the ceiling of the greenhouse window, competing for sunlight.  "My goodness! What a growing boy! Good for you buddy."  I also noticed a couple of ants (let's call them The Explorers) had gotten in through that same ceiling and were making their way down one of those stalks.  I didn't think much of it; I just moved the branches away from the window and went on with my life.  I checked in later and didn't see any more creepy crawlies, so that was that.


The other day Felicia was complaining of dehydration so I did her a solid and threw in a whole bunch of water.  I gave everyone else a drink because it was only fair, and.......whoooosh!  It was as if The Great Flood was upon us.  If ants create their own historical documentation of the event, this is where an arc and one ranting, bearded, white-robed ant would be appropriately gathering microscopic organisms in twos.


Fifty thousand ants, I would say, all clinging for dear life on the side of Harvey's planter.  Felicia had some too, but not like poor Harvey.  As none of this colony had paid any rent to me what-so-ever, eviction seemed to be the only course of action possible.  Nobody rides for free, pal.


Oh, and it was 10:30 at night so I had no way of popping out to the store to buy toxic chemicals, nor did I want to.  I've been researching alternate, green ways of pest prevention but this was a swarm and it was now.  I quickly Googled "kill ants naturally" and found that certain household products will do it.  So I came up with a plan:


I got out the spray bottle I use for normal cleaning with a mixture of one part water and one part white vinegar.  I added a bit more vinegar to it because ants really find it offensive, and sprayed the hell out of 'em.  It was pretty effective but by the end of that session I was gagging from the smell myself.


Next, I lined the window sill with salt (evil spirits don't like that either) and sprayed more vinegar around the window and parameter of the room.  I really didn't want to wake up to a new ant line making it's way to my bed.


And then I waited. And slept. And had nightmares about swarms of ants all night.  Before going to sleep, I prayed that they would just leave the way they had come in.  I really didn't want to kill them.


The next morning there were a few ants moving about, cleaning up their drowned fellows and stuff.  I felt bad for them.  But we cannot have this in the house, I'm sorry.  After doing some more research, I found a substance called Diatomaceous earth.  It is a chalky powder made from the fossilized remains of a hard-shelled algae (diatoms).  The particles in food-grade Diatomaceous earth are microscopic and harmless to humans and pets, but lethal to insects.  Their razor-sharp edges cut the exoskeletons of the insects causing them to die of dehydration within 48 hours.  So it still isn't nice to bugs but it won't harm me, the plants or the Petey.  It can be sprinkled around the house (indoors and outdoors) for preventative measures, and can also wipe out Harvey's infestation.


I gave the ants a 36-hour eviction notice.  They had until the weekend to get the heck out of my house before it got really bad, not just odorous bad, lethal bad.  I have a hard time with the killing stuff now that I've somehow acquired a soul, but one cannot live with fifty thousand freeloading buggers. I won't do it; it simply will not do.


I headed to Manna Grocery, Tuscaloosa's local organic market, and purchased the Diatomaceous (rhymes with bodacious) earth, corn meal and Dr. Brommer's Pure Castille Soap in peppermint.  Along with the vinegar water, ants find the liquids offensive and the solids deadly.  I find the peppermint soap water to be quite lovely!

Saturday morning I took everyone outside to the front porch and did exactly what I did before; everyone got a really big drink.  Expecting the same swarm as before, I jumped back and waited...


And waited....

And...nothing. Not one single critter came out of those pots.  Hoooray!  Let's hear it for vinegar and the power of prayer!


Everyone got a light diatom dusting and spent a couple nights outside while I cleaned and recaulked the greenhouse.  While I was out there I went ahead and dusted the porch below the front windows too, since spring is nearly here.


I used the peppermint soap to make my bathroom minty fresh and buggy offensive, then got to scraping and caulking.  I have to admit that I went a little nuts sealing every single seam, but I really need it to keep the ants out and my sanity in.  Get it? In-sanity? <Snort>

Before (note the gruddy corners)

Scraping away the old gunk with my fancy pink utility knife

Goes on white, dries clear

After: Watching the caulk dry

Oh hey girl! Whatchu doing? 

About half-way through, this really friendly (and very photogenic) squirrel came by to see what was going on.  I guess all of that scraping was cause for curiosity.  I like making new friends.


The plants are now back in their rightful spot, all except for Octavia. I moved her to the kitchen to see if she likes it better in there.  She's such a pill.


Keep on keeping on,
~Easty