When I got home today I noticed the spike on my Ascocentrum miniatum was folded over. I was pretty bummed because this
was the first time I have ever gotten it to bloom again. Has anyone else ever had this happen?
It was hanging from another plant basket. I have a big staghorn fern in a cedar basket that hangs from the edge of my
roof. It looked like the ants were coming down off the roof, down the staghorn fern and onto the orchid. I sprayed em
with some orothene spray (nearest thing at the time) and took a couple of pictures.

Do you guys think the spike will survive? What can I do to prevent this?

Here is a picture where you can see the hole, its about half way or more through the spike:

URL:http://www.dustindorton.com/orchids2...s/DSC_1441.jpg

Here is a picture where you can kinda see the whole plant, and the now bent over spike.

URL:http://www.dustindorton.com/orchids2...s/DSC_1442.jpg

Dustin

Dustin,

We get all kinds of ants around here, though we can mostly control them.
Even on the few occasions where they have infested a pot, they have not
chewed any part of the plant.

I think something else did in that spike. Squirrels?

Diana

They were in there chewing on it when I walked up and noticed it. My
first thought was squirrel, but there is little doubt it was ants.

Dustin



Diana Kulaga wrote:

Dustin,

We get all kinds of ants around here, though we can mostly control them.
Even on the few occasions where they have infested a pot, they have not
chewed any part of the plant.

I think something else did in that spike. Squirrels?

Diana

Got me, then. Never have had ant damage. And I have also seen carpenter
ants, and even then nothing. Hope someone else responds.

Diana

Some of the flowers opened up today even with the damge. Its completely
bent in half now.

Dustin



Diana Kulaga wrote:

Got me, then. Never have had ant damage. And I have also seen carpenter
ants, and even then nothing. Hope someone else responds.

Diana

It may be to late but sometimes you can splint plant stems or infloresences
with wire or tooth picks and tape or twist'ems.

Bob

"Dustin " wrote in message ...
Some of the flowers opened up today even with the damge. Its completely
bent in half now.

Dustin



Diana Kulaga wrote:

Got me, then. Never have had ant damage. And I have also seen
carpenter
ants, and even then nothing. Hope someone else responds.

Diana