Non-toxic way to get rid of ants?

[ShwarmaQueen]

I just bought a gorgeous basil specimen and have a perfect container for it, which is currently being occupied by a humming bird bush (small). There's plentry of room for both (for now) but the only problem is there are a TON of red fire ants infesting the soil in the pot. How can I get rid of them safely? Is the only solution to replace the soil (I'm assuming they love something in it...not sure what though!) TIA! :

[catballou24]

we've used boiling water applied several times in one day to rid ants from our gardens...that and "sweet and low". i don't know how the boiling water will do with the plant you currently have in the pot, but it didn't hurt the ground plants where the ants were coming up in our case...: never-the-less, the water trick worked for us. but i had to be diligent about it and keep pouring water several times throughout the day...

hth's!

[yarngoddess]

Mix a small amount of Borax and Honey- place either IN the ant holes or on a piece of cardboard and put next to the flower pot. It will take a few days to a week to kill off the ants- but it WILL work. I've had SERIOUS problems with ants and this is the ONLY method that actually works, consistantly!

[ShwarmaQueen]

Thanks for the advice! Off to try it!