I have several potted citrus plants that I am trying to nurse through the winter in central Alabama, zone 8, Montgomery. They had been in a protected place under oaks trees to cut down on exposure of the leaves to the sun[thick canopy with lots of spanish moss around too] until the recent horrible cold weather. I moved all into an insulated,large pump house with a 100 watt light bulb on all the time and a 150 watt heat light bulb hooked to a thermostat that would make the heat light come on at 35*.
Everything was looking good. Temps stayed around 40-50 when I checked but one morning the heat light was on but employee didn't check thermometer. It could not have been too cold.

Now I have moved everything outside b/c we have a rain and much better temps for the 7 day forecast . I got torn up by fire ants moving one 5 gallon Ponderrosa Lemon that I bought cheap this year and only bought it b/c it was cheap, late and looked great. Ants have moved into the pot and I didn't see any ants anywhere else.

I actualy moved the Pondererrosa Lemon and the Key Lime back into the pump house b/c I know they are more finicky than my Meyers and Satsumas.

I'm a little bit afraid to use Orthene or Amdro but think it might be ok in the middle of the winter. There are no blooms on anything and soil temps are about 50*....I call the pump house my red neck green house b/c it is green but has no "real light", only artificial light and not too much of that.

Thanks,

Tom

When I have fire ant problems like this in my containers I find flooding them thoroughly every day for a few days will chase them out. If your container media lays really wet this might not be a good thing, but it works for me.

Fire ants - one of the blessings of living in the South...

.....Alan.

Fire ants eat the bark and can severely injure young citrus plants. I have trouble with fire ants almost every year. They often build their nest near the trunk of citrus trees.