http://www.cactusjungle.com/blog/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-blooms-2/ daily news about cacti and succulents and some california natives too Sat, 18 May 2013 00:46:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.cactusjungle.com/blog/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-blooms-2/comment-page-1/#comment-51318 Keith Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:33:17 +0000 http://www.cactusjungle.com/blog/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-blooms-2/#comment-51318 _ants themselves don’t do much damage to your plants, however they protect and farm herds of aphids, cottony scales, mealybugs, soft-type scales, and whiteflies. Ants save the eggs of these insects in their nests over the winter and bring them out in the spring. These insects produce honeydew poop while feeding on your plants which the ants just love. If you closely observe ants streaming up a tree and tending their aphids, you will see them take their legs and rub the aphids which stimulates them to produce the honeydew. This activity is known as “milking” the aphids…

]]> http://www.cactusjungle.com/blog/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-blooms-2/comment-page-1/#comment-51310 Cactus Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:25:41 +0000 http://www.cactusjungle.com/blog/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-blooms-2/#comment-51310 It’s a constant battle. We hose them off and then spray with neem.

]]> http://www.cactusjungle.com/blog/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-blooms-2/comment-page-1/#comment-51309 Michelle Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:21:02 +0000 http://www.cactusjungle.com/blog/2011/12/21/winter-solstice-blooms-2/#comment-51309 How do you keep the horrible yellow aphid creatures off your asclepias? I planted some this year and it’s been a constant battle ever since!

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