Plants, no matter how well cared they are, can also be victims of pests. To combat them, it is necessary to know why they have appeared, in order to eradicate the root problem. Now you might wonder how to remove ants from plants.
Undoubtedly, these are insects that every year make an appearance in your garden and in your pots, preventing you from enjoying your flowers as you would like. It's time to put them at bay!
Where do ants come from?
As much as we may dislike them at times, ants do a wonderful job in the garden, orchard, and even in flowerpots. In fact, are part of the group of pollinating insects, just like bees or butterflies. In addition, there are many plants that produce 'something' that serves them, and I am not talking only about pollen, but also sometimes nectar, and even shelter in stems or thorns, such as acacia cornigera. Of course these are not gifts.
Furthermore, there are those who say that plants keep ants enslaved, as they use them for their benefit. And if we think about it carefully, it could be that it was true, although maybe not, since Although it is true that it is the ant that has to carry out a job (pollinate the flowers or protect the plant), it is also true that both parties benefit. Thus, thanks to the task that the insect does, the plant can produce fruits with seeds, or grow without having so many enemies. So, seen this way, more than talking about slavery we would have to talk about mutualism.
For all this, it is not surprising that where there are plants, we see ants too. But where do they come from? Well, in a garden they come out of the anthills that they make in any corner. For example, I can tell you that they made one underground, in an area exposed to the sun that does not usually get wet when it comes to watering.
Being an underground anthill, and being close to plants, what is achieved is to keep that soil aerated. With which, more benefits for the crops and in particular for their roots, which can grow easily. And that is not to mention that, in case of waterlogging, the water will be able to filter faster, minimizing the risk of rotting of the root system.
Why do they go to the plants?
Before getting into the matter, it is necessary to know why they go to the plants. For this, it must be borne in mind that sometimes, the presence of these insects may mean that there is another host that is taking advantage of the sap produced by the leaves: the aphid. Generally, aphids and to a lesser extent mealybugs or whitefly, and ants are usually accompanied, since the aphid produces a honeydew on which the ant feeds. So instead of one plague, we have two.
It can also happen that, simply, the insect is passing through. If you see that there are only one or two, the chances are that they have gone there to drink some water, but it will not do them any harm. Conversely, If you see that there are many and that the plant begins to get ugly ... it is time to take action.
What are the damages that ants cause to plants?
Apart from the fact that they can favor the multiplication of existing aphids, mealybugs or whiteflies, they are actually discomforts rather than damage. In Spain we do not have potentially dangerous ants; Furthermore, we have the red ant (in the Iberian Peninsula) that feeds on insects that can become pests, such as caterpillars of fruit trees.
Those that are herbivorous, the most they can do is nibble leaves and / or flowers, or take some seed. But nothing that cannot be remedied using natural products.
How to eliminate ants in plants naturally?
A home trick to repel them, especially when it comes to protecting trees or shrubs, is to rub their trunks with a lemon. They dislike the aroma enormously, and as a result it will keep them well away from your plants. If what you want is to prevent them from going to your pots, you can also rub (or spray) a lemon in it.
When we see that the leaves begin to show symptoms that something is wrong, it is necessary observe them carefully with a magnifying glass if possible, since perhaps, in addition to ants, it has a plague of cochineal, aphids or White fly. If that were the case, you would have to use a specific insecticide or, if you want to opt for an ecological remedy, you would have to dilute about 300 grams of natural soap in a liter of hot water, and spray your plants once a week.
To prevent problems, it is best to observation. Inspect your plants every so often, and you will see how the risk of them having pests (or that they get worse) is reduced.
How to prevent ants from climbing trees?
If you want them not to climb trees, there are several things you can do:
Put ant repellent plants
Having plants around the trunk of a tree can be a very good idea, as long as the tree is planted in the ground and has room to grow well. But yes, bet on the aromatic to repel ants, such as lavender, peppermint or spearmint. The smell they give off will keep them away.
Place citrus rinds
Again, we play with the smell. The peel of oranges, lemons, tangerines, etc. (all of the genus Citrus), they usually have an intense aroma. This is why it is a good idea to put them near the trees. By the way, you will also fertilize the plants, and the soil.
Spray the trunk with apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a good cooking product, but also a repellent. To use it you have to dilute, in a 50-50 ratio, warm water with this vinegar. Then fill a sprayer or sprayer with this mixture, and spray the trunk of the tree you want to protect.
We hope these tips help you repel ants.
Thanks for your advice. I have a rue and it is getting ugly and dry it has many homigas and other tiny bugs. I will put your advice into practice to see if it improves. Greetings
Hello Betzabe.
It may, but if it doesn't, please write to us again and we will help you.
a greeting
I have a good night plant and I discovered that it has black ants in the root, what insecticide do I put on it?
Hi miguel
Anyone with Cypermethrin 10% will do, but it is advisable to see if it has aphids, since they are usually associated.
Greetings.
In a plantation of 150 mango fruit trees, these methods would work to eliminate the ants.
Hello Jesus.
Yes, they will work, but I don't know if it will work out for you with so many trees.
Greetings.
How to remove or kill the ants that are inside the trunk of a palm tree? Please help.
Hello Mary.
I recommend you water it with Chlorpyrifos and pass half a lemon through the trunk. The smell of this fruit repels them.
A greeting.
Hello Mary, I have at home an ant nest at the base of a lavender. It seems that they made a nest by the roots. What could I do? Thanks! Enrique
Hello, Enrique.
It seems you got the wrong name, but nothing happens. 🙂
To eliminate the ants you can spray them with natural lemon juice, or put peels of this fruit on the surface.
Another very effective remedy is diatomaceous earth, which is like a white powder composed of fossilized microscopic algae that you can find in amazon.
A greeting.
HELLO, I have a fern and it has filled with ants, what can I do !!, I do not want to lose my fern. Help!
Hello Vanesa.
You can extract the juice from a lemon and fill a spray bottle with it. Next, spray the fern.
A greeting.
I have tiny ants less than 1 mm ??? what can I do »»
Hi Sara.
You can spray with lemon, which as explained in the article, is one of the best anti-ant remedies out there.
A greeting.
Hello, I loved the article, I am discovering that I really like gardening, well I noticed some very small animals among my flowers, last year I tried the soap but I think the leaves were burned with this technique unless I applied it wrong , I didn't do the lemon thing and I tried and I want to try it but I don't understand if. Should I spray only on the ground or on the whole plant?
Hi Lydia.
The whole plant, but when the sun is setting 🙂
A greeting.
Hello cordial greetings I have invaded yellow ants that bite very hard in several lemon bushes and some white cream comes out on the trunk, which you recommend to me, friend.
Hi Ignacio.
You can dilute about 300 grams of natural soap in a liter of hot water, and spray your plants once a week.
A greeting.
I saw ants on a fern, I took it out of the pot.
The root is very spongy!
It cannot be washed ...
I read in a place that I was to wash the soil from the root.
I could not put the soil back in the same place because the root is spongy!
If I made the lemon to the whole fern root ???
Will the liquid from the lemon burn the plant? I understand when you say spray for spray. But in that case!
Can you make a lemon bath to the root without burning it?
I don't want the ants to leave there for another place ... I want to kill them !!!
Thanks and greetings from Costa Rica.
Hi John.
No, do not clean the roots of your fern, as it will not support it (these plants are very delicate with their roots).
Spray it with water with a little neutral soap, this also works against ants. Anyway, check to see if you have any pests, as it is possible that you have aphids.
Greetings.
Is it advisable to use Neem Oil with the soap, both dissolved in water ?, spraying with the lemon juice?
Hi Luis.
You can use them mixed, but I do not advise it.
A greeting.
hello I have a bird of paradise plant, but unfortunately it has some worms like feathers, hair or something like that, please help !! I do not know what to do
Hello Helisa.
You can treat it with cypermethrin 10%, following the instructions specified on the package.
A greeting.
I have a lemon that is dry and very close I have an avocado plant that is already drying too, can you help me with some advice please.
Hi carmen.
How often do you water them? Have you checked if they have any plagues? Have you recently subscribed them?
There are many reasons why a plant can dry out: lack or excess of water, pests, excess or lack of fertilizer, sunburn, fungi.
In principle, I would recommend watering the avocado very often: 4 or 5 times a week in summer and a little less the rest of the year, and fertilize it with, for example, guano following the instructions specified on the package. You can get it in any nursery.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, thank you for your very useful posts.
I have a 5-year-old lemon tree that has many thorns, it has never given an azhar.
This year I fertilized it with iron sulfate.
Last year I watered it often (once a day) but they advised me to water it once or twice a week. I cure it of pests with natural soap water and hang yellow caps greased with whitefly oil, which works for me. What do you advise me for its flowering?
(I am in a seaside resort (Uruguay) it gives a lot of sun and is protected from winds)
All the best
Hi Elsa.
From what you count, what happens is that you still have a young tree 🙂
If you can get guano, which is a natural fertilizer very rich in nutrients, sure that sooner or later it will flower and bear fruit.
A greeting.
Hello Monica: I have a tree tomato plant about two meters high but in January it was caught by frosts and its beautiful and huge green leaves turned black and in the end they all fell off. Now there is the smooth trunk. Do you think it will be able to put new leaves in spring or do I give it up for dead and pull it out? Thanks a lot.
Hello Albino.
Scratch the stems a little with your nail: if they are green, there is still hope 🙂
Otherwise, I would still recommend waiting a month to see if it reacts. You never know (unless you see that it is turning black and very dry of course).
A greeting.
Ants are easy to control with various organic products, but ants are very difficult to control. What dou you recommend?
The problem is that they totally defoliate the plants.
Hello,
You mean the ants? If so, you can treat them with lemon, diatomaceous earth, or with these remedies that we explain here.
Regards!
Hello, I have a plant called miracle of life or leaf of life, each country has its name, well the leaves of the plant are being eaten by tiny ants, which I can use to eliminate them. Thanks
Hello, Elizabeth.
You can spray / spray the leaves with 1 liter of water mixed with the liquid of half a lemon. If the plant is small, you can patiently remove those insects with a swab from the ears soaked in pharmacy alcohol.
If you have questions, contact us.
Greetings.
Good,
I have an ibisco, whose leaves are full of molasses but no matter how much I look and look, aphids do not appear, I pour water with neutral soap on the leaves and it seems that the molasses is cleaned, also on the ground .. but the next day or 2 days they are super sticky and yellow again ...
I don't know if you can help me.
Hi Esther.
If they do not go away, it is better that you treat it with an anti-mealybug insecticide that they sell in any nursery, following the instructions on the container.
Greetings.
With all my respect:
I have applied the 50% mixture of water and vinegar to the trunk of a lemon tree that I have planted in the garden and… the ants have continued to rise and fall as if nothing had happened. I mean, they laughed at the bath I gave the log.
I will have to try other remedies. Thank you anyway.
Hello Antonio.
If one remedy doesn't work, it's time to try others, or find the cause.
That is, if the ants refuse to leave, surely the plant has some plague that attracts them, such as aphids or mealybugs. Therefore, it is highly recommended to inspect the lemon tree leaves to see if they are fine or not. And if they have like cotton ballscottony mealybugs) or critters that look like limpets (san jose louse, they call it), you will have to treat it with an anti-mealybug insecticide. On the contrary, if the insects measure less than 0cm and are green, brown or black, they are surely aphids and can be controlled with yellow sticky traps.
Regards!