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Ants on dahlia wound

bellysmama.ccbellysmama.cc Posts: 9
in Problem solving
It looks like ants are laying eggs on my dahlia. I probably wouldn't be too concerned but its where I pinched out the tip about 10 days ago. The very small stem that's left is turning a bit brown now. Will the ants infect the wound? Should I cut it back further to prevent the stem rotting? Its been grown from a tuber n is about a foot tall now.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think the ants are starting to ‘farms’ aphids on the tender tips of your dahlia. They carry the baby aphids onto your plant and as they grow they ‘milk’ them to get the honeydew. Nature is so amazing! 

    Just brush the aphids off with a finger and thumb or a clean paintbrush if you’re squeamish, and make sure the base of the plant and soil around it is kept nice and damp to deter the ants from setting up home there. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bellysmama.ccbellysmama.cc Posts: 9
    OK thanks I'll follow your advice n hope for the best. Nature is amazing. It always amazes me how plants develop from seed. I've planted several dahlias this year so can't wait to see how they perform. 
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