I just don't think you need be concerned with Orthene. I have used it for years and have never experienced it harming anything other than what I am trying to eliminate. Heck, I use it on many of my tropical plants, orchids included, and would not hesitate to use it on any of my tropical plants.

The nice thing is that it only takes a very small amount of dust to do the ants in. If you fear using it as a dust, just make up a solution and use it as a light drench. It works either way.

Ken. Thank you for your information. I hope to get into town tomorrow and pick up some Orthene.
BTW the plants on your website are absolutely beautiful.

Reine said:
BTW the plants on your website are absolutely beautiful.

And his customer service, and attention to detail can't be beat!!!

I am at an emotional high right now. My Mississippi State Dawgs are ranked # 1 in both polls. We have played football for over 100 years and I have followed the Dawgs for 60 + of those years. We have never been ranked in the top five. My long-time dream is to win a National Championship in a major sport before I die. We have never done that. We came close in basketball in '96 (#3) and came even closer in baseball in 2012 (#2), but have never been close in football, the king of sports in the South. Is this the year? I am quickly running out of time!

Reine, I personally have not used Orthene, because I like the targeted feature of the Amdro ant bait. Our county entemologist feels that baits are more effective in a long-term scenario for ants because it is more sure of killing the queen and the whole colony.

Elaine, the reason I opt for Orthene in my plants/pots is because I want results immediately, not days later. Many baits have to be watered in as well. Not so with Orthene. Of course, Orthene may even have a "bait" formulae. I just use the powder. It is effective and I know it has worked within 24 hours. If used on a mound, there will not be a single ant found when the mound is disturbed. When used on my staghorns (ants just love to live there!) I will also know the ants are nowhere to be found the very next day. I guess everyone has their favorite way of killing the pesky insects.

I'd never heard of beauty berry as an ant repellent. When I see ants around my pots I always use cinnamon. It won't kill the ants, but they will relocate somewhere else. Don't know where they go, but I hardly ever see them around my pots. I buy the cheap cinnamon from the dollar store and I use it on a lot of things in my garden.

I guess I need to try the cinnamon treatment. I use it on my orchids so always have it around. Perhaps I won't have to use Orthene on my staghorn ferns in the fall.

Ooh, ooh, dare I say it??
Okay, I will.

Old Dawg; new tricks. I am laughing with you, not at you. I will also try the cinnamon and will buy it at the Dollar Store. Thanks @orchidgal!

You got that right, Greene!

I use Amdro also & see results the next day, sometimes the same day if I get it on really early in the morning. It doesn't get anything but the fire ants, they take it down into the nest & feed on it. It kills the queen & the entire colony.

Hey Dawg Man,
Even though we have a cousin who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers I do not follow any type of football
I am a little embarrassed. All this time I have seen your screen name and, since one of my children has a degree from UGA/Georgia/go dawgs!, I just made the assumption that you were that kind of 'dawg'. Never guessed you were the Mississippi type. Go Dawgs!

Okay, confession time is over. Back to plants.

Update for leafcutter ants on the fire ant thread. I sprinkled cinnamon all over the nests yesterday. Today, there was only a few visable, busily moving the cinnamon to clear a tiny trail. So, I sprinkled more on the new trails. Seems to be helping.

Good!

I used Orthene, mixing with water, and watered several pots with the mixture. I will check tomorrow for ants. Am I supposed to water with fresh water to wash away the poison after the ants are gone?

That's just a personal preference. The Orthene does no harm, but you might notice an odor. Orthene has a "special" fragrance. That might be a reason to go ahead and flush the potting soil.

Do let me know how the Orthene worked. You should know by now. I am sure others have the same problem and would like to know your results.

FYI - in post #717950, greene has an article about making beautyberry jelly. So, Reine, there may still be a reason to plant some of those clippings.

I don't eat jelly myself. I put chocolate clips on peanut butter, pancakes, toast, etc. But, making jelly does seem like a great use for all those berries.

The Orthene worked.
Not much odor. It should rain again before I bring the plants in, I'll let God water my plants.

The jelly would be fun to make, thanks for the idea.

Good deal, Reine. I am glad something has worked that I suggested. Nothing beats rain.