So...... I have just put about 1.5 watering cans of water onto the cherry and water is coming out of the drainage holes (its a large square container approx. 50cm x 50cm x 50cm so it holds a fair bit of compost). I'm thinking it should have taken a LOT more water than that before it started coming out, but then again, if its full of ant tunnels there may not be as much compost as I think in there! I have some essential clove oil coming today from good old Amazon, so now I have wet the compost through I will put that on after I finish work and see what happens. Just with the water there were a few ants on top of the mulch looking a bit miffed 🤣
Your compost is probably so dry the water is just running thru and not wetting it, hence the advice to use a saucer which would hold the water a while.
If you can't get a saucer under then you'll have to water it frequently so that a bit more compost gets wet each time and that may take several goes. If you can, pour the water on really fast or stand there with a hose pipe for a couple of minutes so you get a puddle on top and can see air bubbles escaping.
Once there is still some water lying on top and no more air bubbles you'll know the compost is wet enough and can let it drain and the apply the oil of cloves as an additional disincentive to nesting ants.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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I will have to go the hosepipe method, there isn't a saucer big or strong enough to hold that planter 🤣 Thank you for the advice Obelixx 😊 I took the rose off the watering can when I watered it earlier and it did get a puddle on top, but obviously it didn't absorb enough. I am conscious of drowning it, but then again if it was planted in the ground it would be at the mercy of heavy rain so I suppose it would be pretty hard to overwater it?
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I have some essential clove oil coming today from good old Amazon, so now I have wet the compost through I will put that on after I finish work and see what happens.
Just with the water there were a few ants on top of the mulch looking a bit miffed 🤣
If you can't get a saucer under then you'll have to water it frequently so that a bit more compost gets wet each time and that may take several goes. If you can, pour the water on really fast or stand there with a hose pipe for a couple of minutes so you get a puddle on top and can see air bubbles escaping.
Once there is still some water lying on top and no more air bubbles you'll know the compost is wet enough and can let it drain and the apply the oil of cloves as an additional disincentive to nesting ants.
Thank you for the advice Obelixx 😊 I took the rose off the watering can when I watered it earlier and it did get a puddle on top, but obviously it didn't absorb enough.
I am conscious of drowning it, but then again if it was planted in the ground it would be at the mercy of heavy rain so I suppose it would be pretty hard to overwater it?