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If you are struggling with ants in the flower pot, there are several methods you can use. The use of insecticides is avoided in order not to damage the potted plants.
In a nutshell
- Ant colonies should ideally be driven out of flower pots
- Plants can suffer damage due to the underground nests
- Scent barriers and water are effective tools to deal with the insects
Flower pot ants: 5 measures
The causes of an ant colony in the planter or pot can be numerous. In most cases, the insects have unimpeded access to the pot, which is placed in a preferably sunny corner of the garden or on the terrace and thus offers ideal nesting conditions. Since they are a nuisance that can damage plants primarily by building their nests, ants are uninvited guests. In the garden, on the other hand, they are a beneficial insect that keeps the population of pests under control. For this reason, ants should be driven out of the flower pot with one of the measures below.
Tip: If the insects have settled near their flower pots but have not yet found their way into the containers, you should draw a barrier around them. Chalk or garden lime are well suited for this purpose, as Formicidae avoid alkaline substances.
Water
One of the fastest and most effective measures against ants in the flower pot is to water the plant extensively. If it is a crop that tolerates a lot of water or has not been watered intensively for a long time, you can use this method without any problems. It is important that you water the plant in the pot over several days until the saucer is full. As the tunnels of the anthill are flushed, the insects have no rest and will leave if the water doesn't stop. If the insects have been driven away, you should definitely make your pots ant-proof.
scent barriers
Ants have a keen sense of smell, which they use to communicate with each other, track down food or become aware of danger. It is precisely this strength that you should take advantage of, because you can use a variety of plants and spices to create an effective barrier against the insects. In doing so, they rely on different forms of application that serve to directly combat and further expel them. If you have already noticed a settlement in your flower pot, the use of spices is recommended. This includes:
- laurel
- cinammon
- cloves
It is the essential oils that provide a pleasant smell for humans, which does not affect insects in any way. They literally run away from the spices when they are sprinkled as a fine mixture on the substrate in the bucket. In this way, the insects can no longer move freely and will look for a new location for their nest. Alternatively, you can spread the spices around the pot as oils. To do this, simply drip a little of the oils onto a cloth and position it. Depending on the weather, this process has to be repeated several times a day until the animals have moved out. You can also set up herbs that have a repellent effect on insects:
lavender oil
- lavender
- marjoram
- thyme
- mints
- chervil
If you do not want to set up herb pots, the essential oil is also suitable from these.
Notice: Camphor, which you can use in the same way, has also proven to be an effective protection against ants. The resin is not that cheap compared to the spices mentioned and must be crushed beforehand, which makes the application not interesting for everyone.
citric acid
Citric acid has a similar effect to the scent barriers. Not only does citric acid smell unpleasant to animals, they sometimes ingest it and are driven off because of the taste. Ants aren't too fond of acidic flavors, which makes it a viable use as a control agent. However, since you should not spread pure citric acid on the substrate, use a lemon instead. The lemon juice is sufficient, because it contains five to seven percent of the acid. It doesn't matter if you're using an organic lemon, as all that matters is the juice and not the zest. The method is applied in the following way:
- Cut lemon
- squeeze into bowl
- Dip cloth in juice
- place on substrate in flowerpot
Repeat this procedure at regular intervals until the insects have sworn off your flower pot. Depending on the size of the settlement, this can take a while, but over time you will get rid of the animals completely.
cucumber peels
Instead of smells and taste, cucumber skins are used as a deterrent, as they have a large amount of bitter substances. Bitter substances not only have an unpleasant taste, they are even toxic to arthropods. For this reason, the insects do not go near the shells once they have noticed them and inform the colony immediately. They are used in the following way:
- peel cucumbers
- Place discs with the inside on the substrate
- wait
A big advantage of this method is the low cost, since you can even use cucumbers from your own cultivation. After a while, remove the cucumber skins and replace them with new ones so that they do not rot on the substrate. Do not worry. The bitter substances pose no danger to your plants.
coffee
Not to forget when fighting ants is coffee. Coffee is one of the long list of measures that work against insects in the flower pot and that you can use without much effort. Again, the intense smell is the reason for the effective effect against the ants. The arthropods can't stand it and leave the flower pot after a short time when the coffee powder has been distributed. Coffee powder in the following variants is suitable for this measure:
- fresh
- Marc from fully automatic coffee machine
- pomace from filters
As you can see, you can actually use any ground coffee as long as it is ground fine enough. Just let it dry a little before use so that it is not applied too wet. Spread the powder on the substrate or pour it directly into the ant tunnels that you can reach from the outside. With a spoon or stick you can press the powder deeper into the substrate, which increases the effectiveness.
frequently asked Questions
Can baking soda be used to repel insects?Baking soda has been touted as an effective home remedy for Formicidae for decades. This is due to the caustic effect, which causes the insects to die miserably if they come into contact with the powder. The problem is that the insects avoid the powder as much as possible. You shouldn't spread too much of this in the flower pot in particular, otherwise your plants could also suffer from it. Baking powder is simply too unreliable and therefore not recommended.
How is an ant infestation prevented?In addition to using scent and limescale barriers, you should make sure that the animals do not find any food near the flower boxes. Ants are often guided by the availability of food sources and for this reason there should be cleanliness around the location of the flower pots. You should also make sure that no aphids settle, as they are almost pursued by the efficient insects and like to occupy your flower pots.
How can insects be expelled from a raised bed?Formicidae are not only found in flowerpots or planters. Raised beds are also a popular choice for insects to build their nests in and undermine a variety of plants. Since the methods mentioned do not always work so easily in the raised bed, you should rely on water. Flood the raised bed several times in a row to flush out the nest along with the insects. In most cases, this measure is sufficient.