Orchid Ants

So I looked at the brand new spike that's forming on my Dendrobium, and today I found 3 or 4 ants around it! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I said to myself I hope the spike is okay, there didn't look to be any damage. However I was wondering if there are any natural repellents to ants that won't hurt my plant in spike! How they cross my garden I'll never know.

 

Not sure about ant repellents but the only reason they would normally be on a plant is for food or farming. If your Dendrobium is free of aphid and Scale (both are farmed by ants) i don't know why they would be on it. Best to flick them off when you see them.