How to Get Rid of Ants From Plants: A Complete Guide

How to get rid of ants from plants is quite simple – you examine the area in question, make use of cinnamon, try insecticides carefully, use other DIY repellants, use vinegar, oils and soak the ground.

One of the most prevalent insects that can infest indoor and outdoor potted plants is the ant. The sweet nectar plants naturally generate draws ants, which can rapidly become annoying, however with a few easy steps you can get oust them, so read on!

How to Get Rid of Ants Once They’ve Already Infested Plants?

To get rid of ants once they’ve already infested plants you should not panic and just examine the area, for a start. Cinnamon will help greatly in reducing them as well as pesticides, DIY ant repellants, clear vinegar, oils and soaking the ground.

1. Examine the Area

Don’t panic if you have ants in your potted plants – there are a few easy things you can do to help get rid of them. Find out where they are coming from first. If they enter from the outside, you must plug any gaps or cracks they could use to enter. If they are coming from inside the pot, you must locate the nest and get rid of it.

There are a few natural remedies and many techniques to get rid of ants once you’ve identified their source. You can use these treatments if you notice ants crawling on garden plants.

2. Make Use of Cinnamon

One safe and efficient way of getting rid of ants in pot plants is to use cinnamon. The ants will surely disappear if you sprinkle some cinnamon powder around the base of the plant. Cinnamon sticks can also be placed in the pot to help fend off ants.

Coffee grounds can also be mixed with cinnamon for a better result here. Cinnamon for ants in potted plants is an easy and effective option.

3. Try Pesticides, but Not Excessively

Insecticides operate by poisoning the ants that come into contact with them. Apply the pesticide spray to treat the soil around the plants or directly on the plants themselves. The poison prevents other ants from visiting the area while killing the ants that consume it.

Insecticides must be used carefully because they can affect people and other animals as well. If you use an insecticide, be sure to follow the application instructions properly and only use it in troublesome regions.

4. Use a DIY Natural Ant Repellent or Citrus Spray

Wondering how to remove ants from plants naturally is a responsible response. One excellent natural method for getting rid of ants from plants in pots is citrus. The powerful citrus aroma will help deter ants.

Citrus juice, citrus peelings, or citrus oils can all be used to surround your plants. Spraying your plants in pots with a solution of water and citrus juice will help get repel ants if you have any. Some scents may attract ants, but once they get a taste, they won’t be coming back.

5. Try a Mixture of Clear Vinegar

Will vinegar kill ants in potted plants? Absolutely. Making a spray solution out of vinegar can help get rid of ants. Spray an equal mixture of water and white vinegar around the outside of your house or wherever ants are present. Soon the ants will be gone.

Clear vinegar can also be used to remove any ant trails you may have noticed. With a cotton ball dipped in vinegar, remove the ant track. This is another way to kill ants naturally. 

6. Use Oils

Many essential oils can be used to get rid of ants. The best oils to help in getting rid of ants include peppermint oil, citronella oil, cinnamon oil, and lemongrass oil. These oils are known as ant killers and will do an exceptional job.

Spray the solution wherever ants are present or around the edge of your planters by combining just a couple drops of this oil mixed with some water in a spray bottle. The powerful aroma will aid in deterring them.

You might also place a cotton ball with some essential oil on it close to ant trails. After the ants detects the aroma, they will quickly flee the area, therefore these oils are a natural pest control method.

7. Soak the Ground

Got ants in potted plants outside? Soaking the soil in plants that are potted will help you get rid of ants if you have any. The ants will be drowned by the water, and additional ants will be deterred from the area.

Fill a large pot or container with water (it must be larger than the plant pot) to wet the soil. Put the contaminated planter pot inside. Before emptying the water, let the soil soak for at least 30 minutes.

Up until the ants are gone, repeat this procedure every other day. So, if you were wondering how to stop ants nesting in plant pots, try this method.

How to Identify Whether or Not You Have Ants in Your Plants?

To identify whether or not you have ants in your plants you will need to see if you can find them moving around inside or outside your house, discover the actual trail and there will be anthills outside your house.

1. Finding Ants Clearly Moving About Inside or Outside Your House

The earliest and simplest indication of an ant infestation is live ants. It won’t be long before ants you find outside your house enter. You may be dealing with an ant affliction if you see larger mounds and large groups of ants huddling together outside, in addition to the few normal ants you see when gardening.

2. Discovering an Actual Ant Trail

Have you actually seen the ants enter the room in a march? This typically indicates that you have a bug infestation already. Ants leaving a route through your home are likely leaving a pheromone trail leading to a previously discovered food source. Keeping the ants from locating the source again will be challenging unless you treat them in a way that spreads to the colony.

3. Spotting Anthills Outside Your House

As was previously said, if you notice a significant number of ants outside your house—more than a few—you probably already have a bug infestation. The fact that there are ants in both little and huge mounds of dirt may not seem like a major concern because they are outside, but because of changes in weather, air pressure, and other factors, there may be hundreds or even thousands of ants waiting below the surface to invade your home.

How To Prevent Ants From Residing in Your Plants in 4 Different Ways?

To prevent ants from residing in your plants in four easy ways you can place the plant on a plate of water, try risers, stands or pot feet, reduce the amount of organic matter in the potting soil and use diatomaceous earth.

1. Place Them on a Plate of Water

Ants cannot overcome a barrier by placing a pot on a water tray. The potted plant won’t be able to become infested because the water will prohibit the ants from getting to it. Bonus tip: boil the water. This is a quick and simple method to keep ants away from your plants. Make sure to keep the boiling water level in the tray at least one and a half inches.

2. Try Stands, Risers, or Pot Feet

The ants won’t be able to access the plant by scaling the side of the pot if you use pot feet. The pot risers make a space between the pot and whatever it is that the ants are attempting to climb. This gap will prevent the ants from crossing it and gaining access to your plants. This quick and simple method prevents ants from accessing your plants in pots.

3. Reduce the Amount of Organic Matter in Potting Soil

Ants may be drawn to organic substances in potting soil. Less organic debris will make your potting soil less alluring to ants. Use stones or pebbles as an alternative for the planter’s top and bottom.

4. Use Diatomaceous Earth

Sprinkling diatomaceous earth directly on the area where ants have entered is the simplest approach to use to kill ants. If you have indoor ants, spread the powder along their ant trail and baseboards, floors, window sills, wall cracks, and other tiny spots where they might have entered your home. It is another option for those of you looking for more natural ways to get rid of ants. So, if you have an organic garden, feel free to use this method.

Conclusion

The many several steps mentioned above can easily help you rid your plants of pesky ants. Keep in mind some may work better for you while some may not work at all – this can range from region to climate and, of course, to specific planters. Remember:

• Before trying any of the steps above, make sure you actually have an ant problem in your plants by following the steps to identify their presence properly.
• If you want to avoid trying store-bought ant control, many DIY options are both natural and highly effective.
• If you use store-bought pesticides or other remedies, try doing a quick patch test on your plants first to see how they react.

Now, you are fully geared to help rid your plants of nasty ant influxes.