This year I planted a much more extensive garden at home. Most of my plants are doing fine however the Jasmine plants started getting all their budding leaves eaten. I thought it were ants eating them and asked AI what I could do to get rid of the ants but AI responded that it likely wasn’t ants devouring the leaves.
My AI Botanist & Insect Expert
Ants usually aren’t the ones actually eating jasmine leaves. More often, they’re a sign that another pest is present — especially aphids, scale insects, or mealybugs. The ants “farm” those insects because they feed on the sticky honeydew they produce.
Here’s the fastest way to stop the problem:
- Inspect the plant closely
- Look under leaves and along stems for:
- tiny green/black aphids
- white cottony mealybugs
- brown bumps (scale)
- Also check for chewed leaf edges or holes, which could indicate caterpillars or beetles instead.
- Look under leaves and along stems for:
- Wash the plant
- Spray the jasmine with a strong stream of water, especially the undersides of leaves.
- This knocks off many soft-bodied pests immediately.
- Use insecticidal soap or neem oil
- Spray in the evening to avoid leaf burn.
- Cover both tops and bottoms of leaves.
- Repeat every 5–7 days for a few rounds.
- Block the ants
- Put a sticky barrier or ant bait near the pot/base.
- Once the ants disappear, natural predators can better control the pest insects.
- Trim badly infested parts
- Remove heavily damaged leaves or stems.
My Thoughts
We actually had a very long conversation and AI asked me to take a photo to analyze the problem and gave me some recommendations. I ordered the neem oil but in the interim used soapy water to wash off the bugs/eggs and other stuff on the plants. I checked them daily and they are doing way better!
I also recently started building my own personal assistant bots and when I have time I will install AI controlled automated sprinklers, harvest schedule, planting schedule, and maintenance. I may as well have AI control my outdoor lighting too. Perhaps there will be an AI lawnmower somewhere down the line and I won’t have to pay my regular landscaper.
How about that? AI is taking over every square inch of my life and we are still in the “toddler” phase of it.
Share The Wealth
Are you using AI to build an entire gardening system yet?