When ants have made a full-time home in the rootball of one of my potted plants, I use a cheap, non-toxic substance to get rid of them. It’s called water.
I’ll explain how I go about this using the example of one of my coffee plants, which last week became the home to an Argentine ant colony and needed the water treatment.
First, I get a bucket that is slightly bigger than the pot and put the pot into the bucket. Then I fill the bucket with water until the water line is above the pot’s mix. Pot in bucket. Filled with water above mix level.
I leave the pot underwater until I see no more ants emerging, giving them plenty of time to run far away from the potted plant to find a new home. This usually takes three or four hours.
Lift the pot out of the bucket and let it drain. I like to let it drain near a plant I want to water so that no water is wasted.
That’s it. The ants are gone. Coffee plant back with his friends under the shade of an oak tree.
Will the ants come back? Possibly. In my experience, they sometimes do and sometimes don’t. If they do, simply repeat the process. It’s not very time consuming, and it certainly isn’t costly.
Those are two advantages of this control method. Another is that it waters your plant, thoroughly. Also, it is not harmful to the plant. I’ve even done it to plants whose roots are exceptionally sensitive to low oxygen, such as avocados, and the plants haven’t shown any suffering.
This water bath treatment doesn’t even harm the ants, really; it only forces them to migrate. Nor does it appear to hurt any other critters living in the potting mix. I sometimes see worms at the surface of the potting mix after this immersion, but the worms just dig back into the mix once the water is drained out.
Here’s a three-minute video where I get rid of the ants in the pot of the coffee plant:
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Tackling Ants on African Mallow Shrubs
As a gardener few things are more annoying than ants marching up your prized African mallow shrubs. These persistent little insects seem attracted to the tender new growth nectar, and aphid honeydew on the plants. While ants don’t directly damage plants, their sheer numbers can be bothersome. Plus they protect and farm aphids, allowing those sap-sucking pests to explode in population. Don’t reach for toxic pesticides yet – getting rid of ants on African mallows can be done safely and naturally.
Understanding Ant Behavior
Ants belong to the insect family Formicidae, with over 12,000 known species. They live in colonies with complex social structures and communication. Worker ants forage for food sources to bring back and share with the rest of the colony. Nectar, honeydew, and insects on your African mallows provide convenient nutrition for nearby ant nests.
Tracking Down the Colony
Dealing with ants already on the plant is only temporarily effective. You need to find and eliminate the main colony to gain real control. Search around the base of the shrubs and follow ant trails to discover the nest location. Inside the home or landscape nearby are common places to spot ant colonies. Getting rid of the nest is key for long-term ant management.
Sanitation and Prevention
The best defense is denying ants the attractions that lure them to your African mallows. These prevention tips also reduce aphids:
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Remove weeds that provide shelter for ants.
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Use ant baits near plants rather than spraying the foliage.
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Trim branches touching buildings or fences used as ant highways.
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Eliminate other food sources like fallen fruits or pet food outside.
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Store unused bags of fertilizer or compost in sealed containers.
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Apply sticky barriers like Tanglefoot to deter access.
Natural Control Options
For non-toxic ways to eliminate ant colonies in your yard and keep them away from African mallows, try these methods:
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Pour boiling water directly into the nest entrance to kill ants.
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Use diatomaceous earth sprinkled around nests and ant trails. The sharp particles pierce the insects’ bodies.
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Mix borax with sugar water for consumption by ants so they bring it back to the colony.
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Introduce beneficial nematodes near nests to parasitize and kill ants.
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Spray nest entrances with diluted, non-toxic essential oils like lemon, peppermint or tea tree.
Chemical Ant Baits and Sprays
For more severe ant infestations, targeted chemical control options include:
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Place granular baits near plants and nests. Insecticide contaminates ants so they infect the rest of the colony.
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Use fipronil, permethrin, or bifenthrin concentrates to directly drench and eliminate nests.
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Surround pots with copper tape which emits a mild charge when ants contact it.
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Spray plant stems with insecticidal chalk which disrupts ant climbing and foraging. Reapply after irrigation or rain.
With persistence in targeting the main ant colonies and eliminating their access to food sources, you can successfully eradicate ants from your African mallows. Combining sanitation, exclusion tactics, and nest destruction will provide long-term control so you can enjoy your garden without ants marching single-file up your prized plants. No more itchy bites or worries about ants farming pesky aphids on your shrubs either. Just a few preventive measures and selective treatments can protect your African mallows from these pervasive pests.
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Im Greg. My goal is to help you grow food at home, with a focus on vegetables and fruits — especially avocados — in Southern California. I write a new “Yard Post” every Friday.
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