Do you ever see ants running up the stems or along branches and leaves? What about your pot plants? Do you notice them in your potting mix? Or in your lawn making little mounds that blunt your mower blades?
Perhaps you’re wondering WHY they are there and WHAT they are doing? Are they causing damage or are they just annoying? If you want to know the answers and how to get rid of them naturally, read on.
It’s a common problem for gardeners – you head out to water your potted plants and notice ants crawling all over them. Small black ants may be trailing up and down the plant stems, or even nesting in the soil. Seeing ants in your flower pots or container gardens can be annoying, but they’re usually there for a reason.
In this article we’ll look at
- Why ants are attracted to potted plants
- What they’re doing in your pots
- How to get rid of ants in plant containers naturally
- Tips to prevent ants living in flower pots
Why Are Ants Attracted to Potted Plants?
Ants are extremely resourceful insects and are drawn to potted plants for several key reasons
1. Food Source
Potted plants provide a ready food source for ants in the form of sweet nectar, sap, or honeydew secretions from other insects like aphids. Ants have a sweet tooth and will readily tap into this free insect buffet your potted plants provide.
2. Nesting Location
The loose, dry soil in pots and containers makes an ideal nesting spot for ants to build colonies and lay their eggs. Ants tunnel into potting mixes seeking the perfect nursery location.
3. Shelter
Potted plants offer ants protection from weather extremes, predators, and flooded ground. Their leaves and roots provide shelter for ants to hide and build nests.
4. Warmth
Pots heat up in the sun, creating a warm microclimate ants find highly appealing for rearing their larvae.
So in essence, ants see your potted plants as the perfect all-in-one food court, housing development, and nursery!
What Are Ants Doing in My Flower Pots?
If you see ants crawling over the leaves, stems, or soil of your potted plants, they are likely doing one of two things:
1. Seeking Food Rewards
Ants are following scent trails to sip energy-rich honeydew secreted by aphids or other sap-sucking insects that have infested your plant. They will fiercely protect these insects to keep the sugary treats flowing.
2. Nesting in Potting Mix
Ants tunnel into dry potting soil to make safe homes for their colonies. They carry in eggs and food to their nests inside plant containers. Inside, they can safely birth their larvae.
Sometimes ants may also simply be traversing through potted plants on their way to a food source, rather than specifically infesting the pots. But usually, ants have an underlying motive for inhabiting your potted plants.
How to Get Rid of Ants in Flower Pots and Container Gardens
If ants are driving you buggy in your potted plants, here are some effective, natural methods to get rid of them:
Remove the Food Source
Ants will leave once you eradicate the sap-sucking insects like aphids that are providing the honeydew reward they seek. Without food, they move on.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
DE powder sprinkled on the soil kills ants through abrasion. It’s non-toxic for humans.
Drench Pots in Water
Thoroughly soaking pots drowns ants nesting in dry soil. Repeated soakings encourage them to leave.
Replace Potting Mix
Re-potting with fresh potting soil removes ant nests and discourages new colonies.
Use Essential Oils
Natural oils like cinnamon, peppermint, citronella, and lemongrass repel ants. Spray around pots.
Apply Vinegar
A 50/50 vinegar and water solution wiped on plants and soil helps eliminate ants.
Bait with Borax
Mix borax, sugar, and water to make homemade ant bait. It poisons ants so they die off.
Be patient yet persistent and try different remedies. Soon you’ll have your potted plants ant-free and ready to thrive again!
6 Tips to Prevent Ants from Infesting Potted Plants
Prevention is the best cure when it comes to controlling ant invasions. Here are some useful tips:
- Place pots on stands or pebbles to prevent ants from crawling in
- Avoid overwatering and moist potting mixes ants are drawn to
- Clean up dead leaves and debris ants use as nest sites
- Immediately remove aphids, scales, or other sap-feeding insects
- Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture in pots
- Regularly inspect under leaves for signs of ant trails or insect colonies
With a few preventative measures, you can deter ants and enjoy potted plants free of these pesky insects. Be vigilant in checking for the earliest signs of ants and sap-sucking bugs. Remove them before they become entrenched and difficult to control.
When Should I Worry About Ants in My Potted Plants?
Seeing the occasional ant traversing through your container garden in search of food isn’t necessarily a major concern. However, if you notice:
- Ant trails leading to and from your pots
- Clusters of ants gathering on plants
- Evidence of tunneling in the potting soil
- An increase in sooty mold growth on leaves
- Visible sap-sucking insects like aphids or scales
It likely indicates a more significant ant infestation requiring control measures. The sooner you take action, the better.
Are Ants Harmful to My Potted Plants?
While ants don’t directly damage most plants, their presence points to other issues that can cause long-term plant health problems:
- Sap-sucking insects like aphids weaken plants by depriving them of nutrients
- Honeydew secretions can promote sooty mold which coats leaves and reduces photosynthesis
- Ant nests in potting soil interfere with root systems and drainage
- Tunnels in pots alter soil conditions, causing moisture loss
So ants in potted plants should serve as a ‘red flag’ that there is an underlying issue requiring attention. Their presence is more problematic than beneficial.
How to Care for Potted Plants After Removing Ants
Once you’ve successfully gotten rid of ants in your containers, your plants will be ready to thrive again. Follow these tips for happy, healthy potted plants:
- Prune off any damaged leaves or stems where sap-sucking insects fed
- Apply a nutritious organic fertilizer to nourish plants
- Monitor closely to ensure all ants and insect pests are gone
- Maintain consistent soil moisture – ants dislike wet potting mixes
- Consider re-potting with fresh potting soil to discourage ant nesting
- Apply beneficial nematodes to soil to kill larva if ants were numerous
With tender loving care and vigilant monitoring, your potted plants will soon flourish and grow happily ant-free.
When to Call for Professional Help with Ants
For minor ant invasions, home remedies are usually effective. But if you have a severe, persistent infestation, it may require calling in a professional exterminator. They have commercial-grade insecticides, bait stations, and treatment methods to fully eradicate ants. Seek professional help if:
- Ants have overrun your indoor plants and are in your home
- You see swarming winged ants emerging – a sign of major nests
- Removing the food source doesn’t stop ants from congregating
- Natural control methods have failed to get rid of ants
- Ants are seriously stressing or damaging prized potted plants
In these cases, professional pest control can provide solutions to successfully eliminate ants where DIY options have failed. They have the tools and expertise to get rid of even severe ant infestations.
Enjoy Your Potted Plants Free of Pesky Ants
When you head out to care for your container plants, the last thing you want to see is an army of ants crawling over them. While ants themselves don’t harm most plants, their presence indicates problems that will. With some diligence and persistence, you can get rid of ants in flower pots and container gardens.
Implement preventative measures, remove food sources, use natural ant repellents, and re-pot with fresh soil as needed. With a little effort, you’ll soon be able to enjoy potted plants thriving happily in ant-free containers.
Do you have Hydrophobic Potting Mix?
In pots, ants are a BIG problem because it’s very common to lose potting mix out the bottom. Their tunnels in the potting mix also create air pockets that can cause water to run straight through instead of soaking in slowly to benefit your plant.
Do a simple test. Count the seconds when watering, to see how quickly the water runs out the bottom. If it’s only a few seconds, you know your potting mix has dried out and needs to be thoroughly re-wet. Do a watering test to see if your potting mix is absorbing moisture
Again, the presence of ants is simply a clue you have another problem and they are just taking advantage of it. Ant tunnels in pots usually means one thing. Your soil mix is dry. VERY DRY. Same in your lawn.
This may be an indication of a bigger issue – your potting mix could be hydrophobic. If the water is running through quickly, it has started to repel moisture. While re-wetting your potting mix is a short-term fix, you need to address this, or the same issue will keep happening. This problem is extremely common with bagged or commercial potting mixes. They start to repel water after time. Hydrophobic soil or potting mix repels moisture
What’s the solution to hydrophobic soil? You can either:
How to Stop Ants on Trees
If you can prevent ants from crawling up the trunk or stem of a tree or shrub, they can’t play bodyguards to pest insects. So how do you stop them in their tracks? There are organic sticky but safe solutions such as fruit tree grease bands, tree wraps and barrier glues. These may be an option in your situation.
Ants In Potted Plants | 2 Homemade Solutions That Actually Work
FAQ
Is it bad to have ants in your potted plants?
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Gardening Know Howhttps://www.gardeningknowhow.comHelp, I Have Ants In My Houseplants! Tips To Keep Ants Out | Gardening Know How
How to get ants out of a flower pot?
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Natural Repellents:
- Cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon powder around the pot and in the soil to deter ants with its strong scent, says Nicole Carpenter, president of Black Pest Prevention.
- Citrus Peels: GrowBarato.net suggests using citrus peels (oranges, lemons, grapefruits) to deter ants with their essential oils.
- Coffee Grounds: Scatter coffee grounds around the pot, as ants are repelled by the smell and acids.
- Cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon powder around the pot and in the soil to deter ants with its strong scent, says Nicole Carpenter, president of Black Pest Prevention.
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Deterrents:
- Moat: Create a moat around the pot using a dish filled with water to prevent ants from climbing onto the pot, according to a Reddit user.
- Moat: Create a moat around the pot using a dish filled with water to prevent ants from climbing onto the pot, according to a Reddit user.
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Ant Control:
- Ant Bait: Classic Pest Control & Insulation suggests using ant bait, which attracts ants to a poisonous substance that they carry back to the nest, killing the colony.
- Diatomaceous Earth: Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the pot, as it is a natural insecticide that can kill ants by dehydrating them.
- Ant Bait: Classic Pest Control & Insulation suggests using ant bait, which attracts ants to a poisonous substance that they carry back to the nest, killing the colony.
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Repotting:
- Remove the soil: The Spruce suggests completely removing the soil and repotting the plant with fresh soil.
- Remove the soil: The Spruce suggests completely removing the soil and repotting the plant with fresh soil.
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Insecticidal Soap:
- Submerge the pot: Gardening Know How recommends submerging the pot in a solution of insecticidal soap to kill ants in the soil.
- Submerge the pot: Gardening Know How recommends submerging the pot in a solution of insecticidal soap to kill ants in the soil.
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Dish Soap and Water:
- Spray the ants: MedicineNet suggests using a mixture of dish soap and water to suffocate the ants.
- Spray the ants: MedicineNet suggests using a mixture of dish soap and water to suffocate the ants.
How do I kill ants without killing my plants?
Put out diatomaceous earth and cornmeal. The ants cannot digest the cornmeal and they die. The DE kills both and and aphids.May 17, 2023