How to get rid of ants in flower pots

Video: Naturally remove ants from plants soil | Best natural fungicide for any plants

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 4: Insect repellents and baits
Method 2 of 4: Submerging the pot in water
Method 3 of 4: Transplanting a Plant
Method 4 of 4: Food from the Kitchen
Tips
What do you need
Treating the plant with insecticides and using baits
Submerging the plant in water
Plant transplant
Preventing and eliminating ant infestations with kitchen supplies

While ants can be a nuisance, they do no harm to potted plants. Ants are attracted to the sticky liquid secreted by other soil-borne pests (aphids and mealybugs). Fire ants love to settle in houseplants and hide in their foliage. There are several ways to get rid of ants in flower pots: use insect repellent or bait, drown them in a solution of water and insecticidal soap, or scare them away with household items. If you are having trouble getting rid of the ants, transplant the plant into a sanitized pot with fresh soil.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Insect repellents and baits

1 Treat the soil with permethrin. When ants eat or come into contact with this insecticide, they die as a result of paralysis of the nervous system. Permethrin is sold in several forms: concentrated liquid, powder, powder, and aerosol. Read the instructions for use carefully before applying permethrin to your houseplant. This insecticide can be harmful to humans if used improperly.
- Treat indoor plants with a concentrated liquid. Follow the directions for use to properly prepare an effective permethrin solution and treat the plant with it.
- If permethrin is ingested or swallowed by you, a family member, or a pet, contact your doctor or veterinarian immediately.
2 Use the bait to destroy the entire colony. The bait containing slow-acting insecticides attracts ants with sugar, oils and proteins. Worker ants carry the poisonous food to the colony and directly transfer the poison to other ants, larvae, and the queen. As the poisonous bait is passed from ant to ant or from ant to larva, the colony slowly begins to die.
- Buy stick ant bait and stick it into the soil of an ant infested houseplant.
- Reusable bait can also be purchased. Due to the fact that the bait can be used repeatedly, it is ideal for eliminating mass invasions of ants. Pour the insecticide of your choice into the bait. Close the block and place the bait at the base of the plant. Check the bait regularly and empty or refill as needed.
- Baits are considered the safest form of insecticide.Before putting on the bait, be sure to read the label on the product to make sure it is safe to use in a home with children and pets. Purchase a bait containing one of the following active ingredients: hydramethylnone, fipronil, boric acid or avermectin B.
- Do not use baits containing cyfluthrin or permethrin. These fast-acting insecticides will kill the worker ants before they reach the colony.
3 Cover the top ball of soil with diatomaceous earth. Diatomite is a mineral based organic insecticide. Sprinkle this crushed flour around the plant and on the soil where the ants are housed. The ants will die about 30 minutes after exposure to diatomaceous earth.
- This substance is less effective when wet. Reapply diatomaceous earth after watering the plant, the rain has passed, or the plant is covered with dew.
- Do not inhale diatomaceous earth.
- Store diatomaceous earth inside an airtight bag to limit its effects on you and those around you.
4 Take 1 tablespoon of mint soap and dilute it with 500 ml of water. Spray the foliage of the plant with this solution.
- Remove the ants from the foliage by spraying it with a hose.

Method 2 of 4: Submerging the pot in water

1 Prepare the solution. If your plant is simply infested with these small pests, flooding the soil with water and insecticide will force them out of the pot. Ants that come into contact with the insecticide solution will either die or drown. To prepare a solution, you must do the following:
- Take a clean bucket.
- Pour four liters of water into the bucket. If your houseplant is large, double or triple the amount of water.
- For 4 liters of water, you will need 250 ml of insecticidal soap, dishwashing liquid or cleaning agent. Some dishwashing liquids and detergents are milder and less expensive than insecticidal soaps, but they are less effective. Some quality brands of soaps and detergents include Dawn, Palmolive, Dove, Ivory, and Joy.
2 Divide the solution. First things first, set aside about half of the mortar you will be pouring over the plant. Find a bucket or tub large enough for you to place the pot in, and pour the other half of the solution into it. Then take a small spray bottle and pour the solution into it. You will spray them with ants that will escape from the pot. Lastly, pour the remaining solution into the pot of ants.
3 Pour about half of the solution over the soil. Place the plant in a shaded area in your yard. Slowly pour the other half of the insecticide solution onto the soil of the houseplant. Take an insecticide spray bottle and spray any ants that come out of the pot. Leave the plant pot aside for about an hour.
- Insecticidal soap is quite mild and can be safely used on plants. This soap contains special potassium fatty acids that kill insects on contact, but do not harm humans or animals. Since these soaps have low toxicity to mammals, they can be used safely in the home with children and pets. In addition, they are approved for use in organic farming. While it shouldn't ruin your yard or garden, we still recommend treating the plant with insecticidal soap on a concrete surface or driveway to reduce the potential for damage.
4 Submerge the entire pot in the insecticide solution. When you pour the solution onto the soil, take a pot and submerge it in the insecticide solution. Leave it in the solution for 15 minutes. Take an insecticide spray bottle and spray the ants that will escape the pot. Remove the houseplant from the solution and place it on the ground.
5 Rinse the plant and pot with clean water. Hose the plant and pot. Clean water will wash away any residual insecticide solution.Allow the plant and soil to dry before moving them to a sunny location or watering again.

Method 3 of 4: Transplanting a Plant

1 Rinse the roots of the plant. To get rid of a colony of ants, you need to remove the soil in which they have started. Take a garden trowel and carefully remove the plant from the pot. Throw away the soil that is left in the pot. Rinse the roots gently with a hose to rinse off ants and infested soil.
- This is a pretty messy job, so do it in a spot that can get dirty and wet.
2 Clean the pot. After removing the soil with ants, you will need to disinfect the pot. By thoroughly cleaning the pot, you will know for sure that all traces of contaminated soil have been removed. Take a rag or sponge and scrub the inside and outside of the pot with it. To do this, take bleach and dilute it in water, in a 1 to 10 ratio.
3 Transplant the plant. Pour fresh, ant-free soil into the pot. Insert the plant into clean soil, and cover all gaps with earth. When you're done, water the plant thoroughly.
- If the roots are too large for the current pot, transplant the plant into a larger pot.

Method 4 of 4: Food from the Kitchen

1 Sprinkle coffee grounds over the soil. Ants do not like coffee grounds and will bypass it whenever possible. Sprinkle some coffee grounds over the soil. Take the coffee grounds and sprinkle them around the pot itself.
2 Surround the plant with food that is toxic or harmful to ants from the kitchen. If you don't want to use an insecticide, especially if you have children or pets, there are several things in your kitchen cabinet that can help kill ants or keep them from reaching your houseplant. These items include baking soda, peppers, cinnamon, chili powder, and mint. Surround the pot with a thin line with one of the above items.
3 Make a non-toxic ant trap. If you don't want to harm the ants, you can set up a non-toxic sticky trap. Cover your plant with self-adhesive wrap. If the ants try to get to the plant, they will stick to the film.
- Cut a ring of self-adhesive that will fit snugly against the base of the pot.
- Separate the two layers and lay the tape on the floor, sticky side up.
- Place the pot exactly in the center of the self-adhesive ring (on the sticky side).
- Change the film as needed.

Tips

You can also use chamomile extract if you're careful with it. To do this, you must water the plant and set it aside for 10 minutes. Then dilute the chamomile extract in water (approximately 1:10) and pour the solution over the plant. To get the correct ratio of chamomile extract to water, you can use a measuring cup (10 ml extract per 90 ml water).