Liz CA Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Is there anything I can do right now? Those darn ants are all over the unopened peony buds and I was sooo looking forward to the beautiful flowers. We have such a time with rabbits eating everything around here and I thought the peonies were safe. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Peonies need ants. There is some sort of wax?? (I don't remember what it is) on peony buds and the ants eat it. If the ants do not the buds won't open There are always ants on peonies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 I could be wrong, but I believe the ants are doing what the peonies need them to do. I believe the ants help the buds open. Where there are peonies, there are always ants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 (edited) Oh, I guess that is an old wive's tale. :lol: I got this from a website Q I have ants congregating on the underside of my sunflower leaves. What in the world are they doing? Also, every year when my peonies bloom they are covered with ants. Do the ants somehow help the peonies? (e-mail reference) A: The ants have probably found some aphids or mites that are producing honeydew (excrement) that the ants are harvesting for their nests. With peonies, the flower bud scales secrete sap that is also rich in carbohydrates that the ants can use as a food source. It was thought that ants were necessary for peony flowers to open. That theory is not true, according to research. Without any ant activity, the flowers still open. Edited May 6, 2010 by Sis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Here's a good explanation. http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/05/ants-go-marching-on-peonies-hurrah.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted May 6, 2010 Author Share Posted May 6, 2010 Here's a good explanation. http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/05/ants-go-marching-on-peonies-hurrah.html Ohh thank you! I did not notice this last year and I had nice flowers! What a relief! I need some flowers in my life ;) I sprayed them off with water and within minutes they were back :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn in WI Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 This is why you don't want peonies next to your house! And also why when you bring the blooms inside to enjoy you will inevitably also bring in an ant or two. Peonies are defintely worth the ants! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyboys Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 This is why you don't want peonies next to your house! And also why when you bring the blooms inside to enjoy you will inevitably also bring in an ant or two. Peonies are defintely worth the ants! As an adult, I love peonies. But when I was a kid, they creeped me out with the ants all over the buds! My mother had a whole row of them. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Queen Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Yeah, the ants don't hurt the plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhM Posted May 6, 2010 Share Posted May 6, 2010 Oh, I guess that is an old wive's tale. :lol: I got this from a website [/size][/font] [/indent] I always heard that, too - that the ants "open the blooms". Mine don't have them yet - but they typically open by Memorial day here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LauraGB Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 Keep the ants during budding, but if they are crazy troublesome, sometimes I take a bit of powdered sugar mixed with borax and put it on a small piece of cardboard placed under the plants to try to lure some of them away (they go for the sugar, bring the borax home and kill some of the clan). When you are ready to work around them or cut them for the flowers, spray them with a bit of peppermint soap (Dr. Bronner's) diluted in a lot of water - they hate that. Wait a bit and then you can cut them and soak them in a bucket before bringing them inside. I love peonies :). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookfiend Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 I just shake them really hard and then wipe ants off my counter for about 15 minutes.:001_smile: Our peony's just came into bloom, and they are glorious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 My kids call peonies "ant plants." I've never seen the ants harm the peonies at all. I've just left them alone. The peonies are beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy in Indy Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 I have some "new" bushes that are blooming this year for the first time. Yea! Our first bud opened today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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