Wholesale nurseries offer many species of plants that you can use as houseplants. These plants are in good condition. However, after getting them home, you may start to notice some problems. One problem that most people don’t talk about is that of ants. There are times when you may start noticing ants in your houseplant. What causes this problem? If you are dealing with ants on your potted plant, this post is for you.
Needless to say, finding ants on your houseplants is never a welcome sight. This is because the ants will not only cause other problems in the house but also damage your lovely dracaena. Removing the ants from your plant can prove to be even more challenging. This is more so if they keep coming back. The good news is that there are a couple of things that you can do to get rid of the ants’ problem once and for all. Keep reading to learn more.
One thing you should understand about ants is that they don’t attack potted plants directly. These insects are not after your plant but rather the scales, aphids or mealy-bugs that may be harming your plant. Ants will start getting on your plant when the aforementioned tiny insects start producing honeydew. Honeydew is the sweet and nutritious excrement that lures ants to your houseplant. This means that the ants will actually work to protect your draceana. Even so, you should note that the sight of ants on your plants is a sign of other problems. Failing to address the underlying problems may cause serious problems afterwards.
How to get rid of the ants
The best strategy you can use when dealing with ants on potted plants is to combine baiting and using insecticidal soap. The plantscaper suppliers will be willing to give you advice on the best products you can use. The baits should be placed on the ant trail leading to the potted plant. By doing this, the ants will carry the bait back to their nest which is mostly located outside your building. With time, you will be able to destroy the entire nest.
Once you have done that, you should then submerge the plant’s soil in a solution of 1 to 2 tablespoons of insecticidal soap to 1 quarter water. Leave the plant submerged for at least 20 minutes. This will kill ants that may be living inside the soil. Allow the soil to drain thoroughly after that.
Natural solutions
You don’t have to use chemicals on your lovely houseplant. There are other solutions you will get from the experts in wholesale nurseries. One of the methods is that of squeezing citrus rind in the direction of the plant. This will help repel ants. You can also make your own soap solution using 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap and a pint of warm water. Spray this around the plant. Peppermint oil that is contained in soaps will repel the ants. You can also use cinnamon, chili powder, cloves, coffee grounds or dried mint tead leaves to repel ants.
The best solution, however, is to control the pest problems that lure ants in. You should seek advice from interiorscaper suppliers to learn how to keep common pests away.