FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

So, I have some mutt form of nepenthes from Lowes that I have had for a year in my window sill. It's growing well, but I have had a problem with ants at this particular window. This thing acts as an excellent trap, the little black ants have marched straight for it and filled the pitchers to literally half full. Should I suck out the contents to keep from killing the pitchers?

Yes, I have been fighting the ants in that particular spot for years. Due to the garden against the wall of the house right there my poison control methods are limited. Just wondering if removing the extra food was an option before I loose what pitchers I have left.

We buy these things called Ant Baits, which you can also DIY- Diatomaceous earth, borax, and sugar. They take pieces of the block home to their colony, and feed it to others, and the borax is caustic, the diatomaceous earth grinds the exoskeletons up. Putting those near a nest will take it out within weeks. You can also buy toilet bowl cleaner or pool acid and pour it down the hole.

I'll try some heavy duty stuff before I plant my garden this year and hope that it kills them off before its time to plant. They come back every year in that spot though because I stop spraying due to the garden as its up against the concrete foundation. Any spray will end up washed into the dirt. I've tried every ant bait under the sun, it stops them for about a week or so before they show up again. I was actually really liking the nepenthes in that window because when the ants do get in, they head straight for the plant and nowhere else! They are coming in unusually high numbers this spring and filled the pots, I'll send pics when I'm back home.

I wouldn’t remove them. It may kill the current pitcher, but helps the plant long term. Larger leaf jumps. Same thing with osmocote pellets in the pitchers.