browndrake

Help!

I have two 25 gallon containers, with bananas, that have termites. I am not sure where the termites came from. Either some got into my compost pile and live through it or they were in the horse poop that I added to the containers' soil mixture.

What can I do to kill them, that will not hurt my plants? I really don't want to re-pot them unless I really have to.

Any and all suggestions welcome. I try to grow organically, but I am not opposed to seven or other chems if they will efficiently do the job with out negative effects to my plants.

I recall Pete saying something about predatory nematodes killing termites. Anybody with such experience.

I really want something that will work quickly as these are in my living room and I really don't like the idea of establishing termite colonies in my house.

Thanks for any feedback.

Aaron

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r3tic

I personally have never tried the nematodes but they are supposed to work. You can try Diatoms, they are organic and work by scratching the exoskeletons and dehydrating the termites. Diatoms will kill any bug that happens to crawl through them including the beneficial ones. Having dealt with termites in the past, I would treat them very aggressively. If they were to breed and migrate out into your house you'll have a bigger headache than you want. Even if they don't have a spawning event, they only live in dirt and will venture out to find food. If you go to Lowes or Home Depot you can get termite stakes that will do the job, they function by not allowing the termites to molt. They basically die due to out growing their skin.

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jfern

Hola browndrake

Es lamentable tu problema con las termitas, porque están dentro de tu casa pero talvez puedo ayudarte con lo siguiente:

_ Trata de conseguir extracto de neem y aplicarlo este se puede encontrar en cualquier tienda que venda productos organicos

- O debes de conseguir las hojas del propio árbol y mezclarlas con el sustrato de la maceta no te puedo decir la cantidad esto va depender del tamaño de la macetera.

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browndrake

r3tic

Thanks for the ideas. Living in the middle of nowhere, although it has some wonderful advantages, has it setbacks. I will probably need to take a trip and go visit home depot and see what they have.

Nematodes sound great, but where to get them? and how long would it take? (I am a bit concerned about the speedy resolution of this issue)

Would stakes or other chemicals have negative effects on the bananas?

jfern,

gracias por las ideas. ¿Si yo podría conseguir extracto de neem, cuanto demoraría en solucionar el problema? ¿Hay que solo echarlo encima o mezclarlo bien como dijiste para con las hojas?

Thanks

Aaron

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sandy0225

I don't know if they're like ants where a good soapy water drench would kill them, but I guess that would be worth a try first. Mix up a five gallon bucket of good soapy water and soak the pots real good and see if that works.
The main thing I'd be worried about is where they're coming from. They might not have came from your compost pile at all. They might already be in your house, and then got into the pots. We have an Orkin contract out on our house, because there were termites when we moved in- and any time we do any digging and disturb the perimeter treatment, they get back in. They're like the velosaraptors in Jurassic park, just testing the fences waiting to get through!
If you think they're in your compost pile, you need to find out for sure. They just hang out in nests and travel and eat and then come back there. The orkin man said they'll travel up to 500 feet through the soil once they find a food source. If you have any cardboard sitting around, check it. They like cardboard better than wood, it's easier to chew.
Another question, you're worried about termites in your living room but not horse manure? LOL.....

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

jfern

browdrake

La reacción con el NEEEM es practicamente inmediata ya que este es un insecticida, lo único que es un insecticida botánico, imaginate que existe un insecto denominado "langosta del desierto y ni el se atreve a devorar las hojas de este árbol", podrías estar viendo resultados al día siguiente si lo encuentras guiate por la etiqueta, nosotros en NICARAGUA lo usamos a 100ml por 20 Litros de agua para plagas en hortalizas. Tambien las hojas están recomendadas para usarlas contra cierto tipo de hormigas.

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gadget

I say dig them up and start with a sterile mix, then you know you got them out of your house. maybe submerging would work. best of luck

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