West Coast Vaper Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted December 26, 2021 Author Share Posted December 26, 2021 Came across this little one last week. How the seed got there, dunno. I usually scatter ungerminated seeds in one area of the garden. Here's the thing. Nothing usually grows in this area of the garden and the plant is smack bang in the middle of an ant nest. My wife thinks an ant brought it home. The soil is not ideal so I'm wondering how the ant nest is going to affect the plant. Ants are loving the molasses I think. In the last pic to the left of the leca you will see an ant at work. The plant will either be from @Totemic or @Bay Seedsas that's all I've been growing the last while. Let's see if this survives and hopefully I can recognize it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 Braai time is update time. Gets water when the garden gets water. Up to twice a day. Now and again a bit of molasses when I mix for indoor. Wind battering the FcUK out of it and the ants keep on dragging all sorts of things into their nest under it. 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsyCLown Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Haha, this is quite cool - keen to see how it turns out. Wondering if the ants will use the plant to farm some pests though, like aphids or scale? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 Haha, this is quite cool - keen to see how it turns out. Wondering if the ants will use the plant to farm some pests though, like aphids or scale?Whatever strain it is it's one tough plant.Gonna have to read up on what happens in an ant nest. Are the ant tunnels aerating the roots or are the ants eating the roots?Is the plant matter the ants are carrying into the nest all been eaten or is some of it composting?Let's see.Sent from my S40 using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty.Psychonaut Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 (edited) the knife can really cut both ways here, but I guess you could predict the outcome a little by trying to find out what type of ants those are. ants that take plant matter underground usually do this to create mycelial networks for them to feed on, they're mushroom farmers, yet it's not unheard of ants munching on fine roots till the plant dies, the ants attraction to the root zones is the mycelium that is commonly found around plant roots. but then again we shouldn't forget that the cannabis growing there is also a plant by defenition and is the exact thing the ants are after to help them grow more mycelium. some ant colonies like to build their farms under a plant so the plant and its roots provide structure and protection for their homes, they know this and try to not hinder the growth of the plant aswell as the extra aeration and mycelium at the root zone that helps the plant to grow. other ants go farming at the base of the plant and end up putting the plant through so much stress they become weak and start attracting pests, the ants know this and use this tactic so they get a plant to host their food, such as psy mentioned. either way, pretty cool to see this go down Edited January 4, 2022 by Naughty.Psychonaut lots of spelling 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsyCLown Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 43 minutes ago, DamDave said: Whatever strain it is it's one tough plant. Gonna have to read up on what happens in an ant nest. Are the ant tunnels aerating the roots or are the ants eating the roots? Is the plant matter the ants are carrying into the nest all been eaten or is some of it composting? Let's see. Sent from my S40 using Tapatalk These are questions I do not have answers too, but would love to know as well. Will be keeping an eye on this thread 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 the knife can really cut both ways here, but I guess you could predict the outcome a little by trying to find out what type of ants those are. ants that take plant matter underground usually do this to create mycelial networks for them to feed on, they're mushroom farmers, yet it's not unheard of ants munching on fine roots till the plant dies, the ants attraction to the root zones are the mycelium that is commonly found around plant roots. but then again we shouldn't forget that the cannabis growing there is also a plant be defenition and is the exact thing the ants are after to help them grow more mycelium. some ant colonies like to build their farms under a plants so the plant and its roots provide structure and protection for their homes, they know this and try to not hinder the growth of the plant aswell as the extra aeration and mycelium at the root zone that helps the plant to grow. other ants go farming at the base of the plant and end up putting the plant through so much stress they become weak and start attracting pests, the ants know this and use this tactic so they get a plant to host their food, such as crex mentioned. either way, pretty cool to see this go down Like when you pick up a pot plant and find an ant nest. Interesting Sent from my S40 using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty.Psychonaut Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 (edited) 39 minutes ago, DamDave said: Like when you pick up a pot plant and find an ant nest. Interesting Sent from my S40 using Tapatalk yeah, I've had this with all kinds of plants and sometimes it makes me stress, but I have seen plants thriving like this aswell. the explination I gave is actually very simple, the physicality of it all is quite complex, my relationship with ants really is a love hate situation they're very interesting, but can wreak havoc if they wana and we can never be too careful I watched a documentary looooong ago about ants basically doing above ground landscaping by root management under ground. blew my mind, how they knew if they munch this certain root they know that one certain branch of the plant will die and they would prevent their habitats from getting too dense, but still not kill all the plants in the area so they still have protection and all that. sort of like they making bonsai Edited January 4, 2022 by Naughty.Psychonaut 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ill_Evan Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 I like this 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 Harvester ant, also known as harvesting ant, is a common name for any of the species or genera of ants that collect seeds (called seed predation), or mushrooms as in the case of Euprenolepis procera, which are stored in the nest in communal chambers called granaries.[1] They are also referred to as Agricultural ants. Seed harvesting by some desert ants is an adaptation to the lack of typical ant resources such as prey or honeydew from hemipterans. Harvester ants increase seed dispersal and protection, and provide nutrients that increase seedling survival of the desert plants. In addition, ants provide soil aeration through the creation of galleries and chambers, mix deep and upper layers of soil, and incorporate organic refuse into the soil.[2] From what I can find so far on what I think is a Veromessor Pergandei common name Harvester Ant. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 35° in the cabinet. 41° in the shade. 53° in the open. Hot breeze blowing. Neighbouring farms on fire. Average day in the bush 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Plant about 30 days old. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 My son and myself spent most of the day under the tree in a massive bin filled with water watching this plant getting nailed in the wind. Was wondering if I should put up some sort of protection but decided against doing that. If the ants wanted shade they would have chosen a shady spot. Some burnt tips but marching on. Science project mother nature continues. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Arm twisted. Bush Pub happy hour frosty. Time to cool down. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ill_Evan Posted January 13, 2022 Share Posted January 13, 2022 No lime? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 No lime?Lime slices in Budweiser draught. Tequilas with Windhoek.Priorities mate.Sent from my S40 using Tapatalk 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 17, 2022 Author Share Posted January 17, 2022 AntZilla going to sleep as the full moon rises on the West Coast. This little one is surely testing the elements out here. High temperature. Low to no humidity. Strong hot winds. Me forgetting to water. Only the ants feeding the soil. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty.Psychonaut Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 when the plant is big enough, think about cloning it, if it turns out to be some danky dank you can regrow it and those sure are some strong genetics 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 29 minutes ago, Naughty.Psychonaut said: when the plant is big enough, think about cloning it, if it turns out to be some danky dank you can regrow it and those sure are some strong genetics I was planning on a few cuttings but want to make sure the plant is nice and strong first. Got an upgrade to my setup on the way and seen that I've chucked all my remaining seeds outdoors I've nadda to grow indoors. So hopefully once newish setup is operational AntZilla is ready for a trim. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 It has just dawned upon me that this is 100% organic grow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 Braai time = update. Still going strong. Ants doing a good job so far. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted February 5, 2022 Author Share Posted February 5, 2022 Braai time again So this little one is about 7weeks old. Sun and hot winds nailing this little tough one. Stem the thickness of a decent King Size Slim joint and strong as a nail. Still the ants doing their thing and water. Took a cutting and cooked the poor things two days later when I forgot it outside while doing something. I see two possible candidates volunteering to become clones. I'll decide after the braai. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Vaper Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 Lunch time boerie braai is update time. Had some molasses on hand yesterday so gave some to AntZilla. Gaining some height, not much, and still looking healthy. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsyCLown Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Shame, really struggling there. Quite slow growth, however it is in a harsh environment and who knows how much nutes she (hopefully) has access to. Still a bit of time until she starts to flower at least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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