Lemon Trees and Ants

Question

I recently potted a new young Eureka lemon tree. Over the last two weeks, there are concentrations of ants on the underside of the leaves together with what looks like a white fungus. I have tried spraying with a rooibos tea mixture, but with no effect. How do I get rid of this?

Answer 1

Your lemon tree likely has been affected by aphids, which secrete honeydew. This sweet substance is what normally attracts the ants and is what they feed on, so in order to rid the plant of ants, you'll first need to get rid of the aphids. Neem oil can help with this. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/homemade-aphid-control-a-natural-way-to-kill-aphids.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm