Products That Keep Ants Out of Potted Plants

Ant Repellents

• Ant repellent powders are effective at keeping ants at bay when dusted onto the exterior of the plant pots, as well as the ground surrounding the pot. Such products can be obtained from a garden store and are typically made from boric acid. Alternatively, gardeners can use food-grade diatomaceous earth powder, available from most health food stores. Diatomaceous earth is effective against all types of ants and many other insect pests, according to the University of California.

Ant Bait

• Ant bait can eradicate an entire ant nest, killing it off before its inhabitants invade your potted plants. The University of California recommends baits over insecticide sprays, saying the former are more effective. Potent ant poisons come formulated with chemicals like fipronil, hydramethylnon and arsenic trioxide. Set out the bait near your potted plants in accordance with the product's labeled guidelines, since toxicity and range of efficacy varies by product.

Tray

• A simple kitchen tray with a lip can be an effective means of warding off ants. The tray should be large enough to accommodate the base of the plant pot, and should also have a 1/2-inch or higher lip. Put the pot in the tray and add water up to the tray's rim. This essentially creates a watery moat that the ants can't cross. If your plant pot has drainage holes on the bottom, water is absorbed through the holes and has the positive side effect of watering your plant.

Insecticide Soap

• Standard over-the-counter insecticide soap, available at garden stores, can help eliminate ants that are already present in a potted plant. Because the ants will often setup a colony in the pot itself, control methods must target both the pot surface and its contents. The University of California recommends filled a plastic bucket with water and insecticidal soap at a rate of 2 tbsp. of soap per quart of fresh water. Gardeners can then submerge the entire plant pot into the solution, sinking it to a depth where the water covers the surface of the soil inside the pot. Soaking the pot in this manner for 20 minutes will kill all of the ants.