How to Get Rid of Ants in Houseplants Without Harming Your Plants?

Finding ants inside the home can be extremely annoying, especially when you see them crawling around the houseplants, despite maintaining cleanliness. You may look for ways to get rid of ants in the house plants, but it’s equally important to get to the root of the problem. When you look around your potted soil and see a nest along the root zone, it can be harmful for the plant’s health.

When ants invade houseplants, indoor plants provide limited soil space to them, so they damage the roots, resulting in poor plant health. Ignoring them can cause the plant's health to deteriorate; hence, it becomes important to get rid of them. This blog explores several practical options to get rid of ants in houseplants and a few simple steps to keep them from coming back.

Why Are Ants Attracted to Houseplants?

Ants usually build their nest outdoors. However, they might come inside to find a place for nesting or to find food. There are two main reasons for this -

• The container or the soil you bought already has ants in it.
• Ants often get attracted to the house because of the untidy kitchen.

Pests like aphids, mealybugs, and scales create honeydew, a sweet, sticky substance to which ants get attracted and invade the homes in search of it.

Signs of Ant Infestation in Houseplants

If you see a few black ants moving around the plants, it is usually not concerning. However, when you see them in groups, or find their nests, it’s a clear indication of their infestation. Some of the common signs of an ant infestation in houseplants are -

• A trail of ants moving between an entry point, such as a windowsill, a baseboard, the edge of the pot, or around the soil.
• The presence of a sticky, shiny film on leaves or on the surface below the plant, known as honeydew, also indicates that a sap-feeding pest is present.
• When watering the plant, if you see a cluster of ants boiling up on the surface, this means they are nesting in the soil.
• Ants clustering on new growth, underside of the leaves, or on the stems means there is a colony.

Environment-friendly Tricks to Deter Ants in Houseplants

Adopting natural ways to deter ants is the best way to keep them at bay. Here is a list of a few natural methods:

Find the Source of Ant Infestation

The first thing to do when you see a bunch of ants moving around is to find out the reason for their infestation. Try to figure out where they are coming from. This will give you an idea if they are attracted to any food source.

For example, if there is any open bag of sugar or jam with a loose lid, simply remove it and securely store the food. So with no access to food, there will be no reason for them to stay indoors.

Set Out Ant Baits

To stop the ants from spreading, set out ant baits along the trail that can poison them and destroy the colony, too. To make sure the baits are effective, analyze the ants’ behavior and place the baits along the trails. This ensures that the ants do not ignore the bait.

Repot the Plant

If the ants have built a nest in the pot, the best way to get rid of ants is to repot the plant. Before pulling out the plant, make sure to loosen the soil around the edges without damaging the roots of the plant. Upon pulling the plant, you may see a bunch of ants fleeing the pot; hence, it is advised to do the entire process outside the home.

Allow the plant to rest so that all the ants can run off. Then loosen the soil around the roots, remove existing soil, and replace the pot with new soil. You can either use the same pot or get a new one. But if you are using the same pot, make sure you wash it first and put it in a new location until you are sure that the infestation is over.

Flush the Pot with Water

Ants will go away if you drench the soil with a garden hose. Try to plug the drain holes in the bottom. This allows the soil to become wet enough to drive the ants away. You can also submerge the pot inside a five-gallon bucket and leave it for a few hours. Then, remove the smaller pot and allow it to dry.

Use Preventive Measures

After eliminating the existing ant infestation, focus on preventing future infestations. Place the potted plants on saucers containing a few drops of essential oil, such as citrus, peppermint, or cinnamon. These scents naturally deter ants and keep your plants protected indoors.

Do Not Use Pesticides

Using pesticides is not recommended because there are several non-chemical approaches that are safe and easy to use. Essential oils are considered good in deterring pests, such as ants, but they do not offer a long-term solution.

Try Companion Planting

Another effective way to get rid of ants is to prevent aphids. Plant wormwood and Artemisia absinthium, as they have a strong scent that deters aphids. So, if there are no aphids to produce honeydew, ants may not invade your home.

Best Homemade Remedies to Remove Ants From Plants

Homemade remedies are easy to use and work effectively if done correctly and consistently. You can use the solutions mentioned below to get rid of ants in house plants -

Borax and Sugar

Borax is a natural mineral that helps kill ants if they ingest or come in contact with it. It can be applied as a paste or powder, or you can make a spray. To make a liquid bait, mix 2 tablespoons of borax with 2 tablespoons of sugar, and add the mix to one cup of warm water.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth, or DE, is a powder organic material that prevents ants from getting close to the plants. It is made up of the exoskeleton of marine animals, which are sharp enough to penetrate the soft-bodied ants. Sprinkle some powder around the potted plants indoors to make sure these crawlers don’t invade the plants and destroy them.

Vinegar

Mix equal parts of vinegar and water to make an ant repellant solution. These creatures follow a pheromone trail, and vinegar, having a strong acidic smell, can hide the scent trail. This causes them to pick a new pathway. You can mix water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray near the opening of the nest.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the most commonly found spices found in the kitchen. The scent of the stick deters the ants and causes them to leave the house and find a more hospitable location. Therefore, consider sprinkling cinnamon powder around the plants where ants might already have built a nest.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds can also be used to get rid of the ants swarming around the plants. Though it is a temporary solution, the scent of the coffee acts as a pheromone repellent and physical barrier, while improving the soil with potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. You can use the coffee grounds around the ant trails and near the nest openings.

How to Prevent Ants in Houseplants Permanently?

Even after using measures to keep ants away from indoor plants, you must make sure that they stay outdoors permanently.

Commercial Sprays

Use a nontoxic commercial spray to kill the ants as soon as you spot them. You can spray it directly on the ants to discourage them from entering your home ever again.

Bait Traps

Use bait traps to attract ants. The ants will eat the bait and will also bring some to their nest for other ants to eat. As a result, all of them will die and will not return to your home. Also, make sure to use only boric acid or borax-containing baits, as some may also contain hydramethylnon. This compound is considered harmful for your children and pets. Plus, it is also not great for fruit- or vegetable-bearing plants.

Block their Entrance

Try to figure out from where the ants enter the home. Blocking and sealing the entry points, such as cracks and holes in the walls, gaps near the windows, etc., can keep a check on infestation.

Regularly Water the Plants

Water your potted plants regularly as per their requirements. Do not flood the pot with water as it may lead to drooping leaves, rotting roots, fungal diseases, and nutrient loss, among many other things. The moist soil will drive away the ants and won’t allow them to nest in there.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Treating Ants in Plants

Some common mistakes people might make while treating ant issues in houseplants -

• When eliminating ants, it is also important to take care of aphids and mealybugs that produce honeydew. If you work on the root cause of the problem, there is less or no chance of them returning.
• When using borax or vinegar, do not spray them all over the leaves and stem, as they can burn the leaves and impact the health of the plant.
• Leaving the old soil in the pot is another reason ants may come back. Just treating the soil may not remove eggs and nests. So, it is better to repot them completely after washing the root balls.
• Dunking the pot might force the ants out, but it is better to keep them submerged in the water for some time so that the ants suffocate and each one of them leaves the plant.

When to Repot a Houseplant Due to Ant Infestation?

Repotting the plant becomes necessary when there is excessive ant infestation in the indoor plant. This is one of the best ways to get rid of the ants completely. All you need to do is -

• Remove the plant from the pot by loosening the soil lightly. Being aggressive might damage the roots.
• Shake off the soil as much as possible and throw away the existing potting soil.
• Wash the pot and roots thoroughly so that there are no ants left.
• Amend the soil with a good vermicompost or cocopeat to improve drainage.

How to Get Rid of Ants in Plants Outdoor?

Ants in paving stones or compost bins are fine, as they don’t bother you much. However, if they are nesting in the plant, here are a few methods you must try -

Water the Plants Regularly

Be it indoors or outdoors, watering the plant is one of the best ways to keep ants out. However, you must not overflood the pot, as it can cause root rot and damage the plant.

Try Companion Planting

Wormwood and Artemisia absinthium have strong scents that deter aphids. Thus, reducing the food source for ants. Once there are no aphids to produce honeydew, ant infestation may also reduce.

Conclusion

Getting rid of ants in houseplants does not require harsh and harmful chemicals. Simple ingredients found in your kitchen can be highly effective provided you use them correctly and consistently. From vinegar to borax and cinnamon and coffee grounds, etc., all can help you deter and get rid of ants. Plus, repotting the plant, using ant baits, and flushing the pot with water can also make sure that the ants do not return.