Have you ever noticed tiny black dots crawling on your beautiful potted plants? If you look closer, you may realize that they are not dots, but ants! Yes, you heard it right. Ants are one of the most common pests that can invade your indoor or outdoor plants. So, how to get rid of ants in potted plants?
To help you out, we have done some good research work related to ants issues. Luckily, we have found out there are several natural and effective methods, in which you can try to remove ants from your potted plants. In this blog post, we will show you some of the best ways to get rid of ants in potted plants.
Read on to find out how to get rid of ants in potted plants, and enjoy your greenery without any worries.🐜🚫🌱
Contents
Methods to Get Rid of Ants in Potted Plants
Ants may invade your potted plants for various reasons, such as looking for food, water, shelter, or sweet secretions from other pests like aphids. Although ants do not harm your plants directly, they can make them look unsightly and attract unwanted visitors. Fortunately, several methods exist to get rid of ants in potted plants. Here are some of them:
1. Use Natural Repellents to Get Rid of Ants
One of the easiest and most convenient methods to get rid of ants in potted plants is to use natural repellents that ants dislike or fear. These include essential oils, coffee grounds, cinnamon, citrus peels, and vinegar. All you need to do is apply these substances on the plants, soil, or pot to deter the ants from coming near them.
Allow me to provide a step-by-step explanation for your understanding.
- Mix a few drops of essential oils (such as thyme, yarrow, lavender, or citrus) in a spray bottle full of water and spray on the plant, soil, and pot every few days. As we know, these oils have strong smells that ants don’t like and will not come near to your pots.
- You can also sprinkle cinnamon powder on the soil or around the pot. It has a spicy aroma that ants hate and may also burn their skeletal system.
- Mix coffee grounds into the potting soil or sprinkle them around the base of the plant. Ants detest coffee grounds and will avoid them.
- Another simple way is to place citrus peels (such as lemon, orange, or grapefruit) on the soil or around the pot. It contains limonene, a chemical that is toxic to ants and may also repel them with its sour smell.
- You can also spray a mixture of vinegar and water on the plant, soil, and pot. It is acidic and can disrupt the ants’ sense of smell and taste.
2. You Can Use Ant Baits to Get Rid of Ants in Potted Plants
Another effective method to get rid of ants in potted plants is to use ant baits, which contain slow-acting insecticides mixed with attractive sugars, oils, or proteins. You can use commercial ant baits that are available in different forms, such as sticks, stations, gels, or liquids.
All you need to do is insert an ant bait stick directly into the infested potted plant. Or fill a reusable bait station with the insecticide of your choice (such as Borax) and set it near the base of the plant. Furthermore, you can also apply ant bait gels or liquids on cotton balls or pieces of cardboard and place them near the plant.
Before using ant baits, always read the label to ensure that they are safe to use around children and pets.
3. Submerging the Pot in Water
If you want to get rid of ants in potted plants quickly and easily, you can try submerging the pot in water for 15 minutes. This will flush out most of the ants from the soil and drown them. Plus, you can also add some dish soap to the water to make it more effective.
To do this method, you will need a bucket or tub that is large enough to fit your pot. Fill it with water and add a few drops of dish soap if you want. Then gently lower your pot into the water until it is completely submerged. Then leave it there for 15 minutes and lift it out carefully. Drain any excess water from the pot and place it back in its original spot.
4. Repotting the Plant
If your potted plant has a severe or persistent ant infestation, you may need to repot it with fresh potting soil and a clean pot. This will remove any ant nests, eggs, or larvae from the soil and prevent them from coming back.
To repot your plant, you will need a new pot that is slightly larger than the old one, fresh potting soil, a trowel, a knife, and some gloves. You will also need to wash the old pot with warm water and bleach to kill any remaining ants or eggs.
Let me explain to you in a better way.
Gently remove your plant from the old pot and shake off as much soil as possible from the roots. You can also use a knife to cut off any rotten or damaged roots. Then fill the new pot with some fresh potting soil and make a hole in the center. Place your plant in the hole and spread the roots evenly, add more soil around the plant and press it firmly.
5. Neem Oil Help to Get Rid of Ants in Potted Plants
Neem oil is a natural oil extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. It has insecticidal, antifungal, and antibacterial properties that can help you get rid of ants in potted plants as well as other pests and diseases. So, you can use neem oil as a spray or a soil drench for your potted plants.
To make a spray, mix 2 teaspoons of neem oil and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap in a quart of water. Shake well and spray your plant, soil, and pot thoroughly. Repeat every 7 to 14 days until you see no more ants.
FAQs
How to get rid of ants in potted plants naturally?
There are many natural ways to get rid of ants in potted plants, such as using essential oils, coffee grounds, cinnamon, citrus peels, or vinegar. These substances can repel or kill ants with their strong smells, tastes, or effects. You can apply them on the plants, soil, or pot to deter the ants.
Can I spray vinegar on plants to kill ants?
Yes, you can spray vinegar on plants to kill ants. Vinegar is acidic and can disrupt the ants’ sense of smell and taste. It can also make the soil inhospitable for them. You can mix vinegar and water 50/50 in a spray bottle and spray the plant, soil, and pot every few days.
How do I kill ants without killing my plants?
You can kill ants without killing your plants by using ant baits that contain slow-acting insecticides. Ant baits work by luring the worker ants to feed on them and then carry them back to their colony, where they share them with other ants, larvae, and queens. As the insecticide spreads through the colony, it gradually kills all the ants.
Conclusion
In this blog post: how to get rid of ants in potted plants, we have shown you some of the best ways to get rid of ants in potted plants naturally and easily. You can use natural repellents, ant baits, water treatments, or repotting techniques to eliminate ants from your potted plants.
By following these methods, you can enjoy your plants without any ant troubles. We hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with us.
Thank you for reading and happy gardening!
Hello, I’m Rose Lehman, the content writer of cozynest. I have been a gardener for over 5 years, and I have a certificate in master gardening from the Oregon State University Extension Service. I enjoy writing about all aspects of gardening, from the basics to the advanced, and from the practical to the creative. I also love to explore different types of gardens, cultures, and styles, and share them with our readers. My goal is to inspire and inform our audience, and help them grow their own cozynest.
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