skip to main content

California Gardening

Ants in my House Plants (Bay Area)

lisascenic Urban Gardener, Oakland CA

16 years ago

I live in a 1920's apartment in Oakland. I'm on the third floor. And I have a lot of house plants.

In the last few weeks, the ants have discovered my house plants. First it was one orchid, and today I was watering my Christmas Cactus, and was dismayed to see that I had disturbed HUNDREDS of ants.

What's a girl to do? I'm worried that if I let them stay, I'll create a terrible infestation. But I'm also worried that if I remove the plants, they'll start roaming and discover my kitchen.

I would prefer not to douse my apartment in poison.

I'm a transplanted Marylander, and don't know the rules for California ants.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Lisa

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

gobluedjm 9/18 CA
16 years ago
If you can find the source outside where they are getting in at you can stop it there with poison.
They are looking for a place to spend the winter.
Is it possible that one plant is rotting. I don't know if they are attacted to that smell.
Get the Terro ant traps or even the liquid. You can put the liquid a few drops on piece of cardboard and they take it back and kill and queen. BUT...I have watched them and some stay right there for like 15 minutes and drink it on my patio.
Eventually after a few days they were dwindling down.
I found the nest in the patio railing cracks and filled it with the Terro foam spray.
In a former condo a neighbor had them and they had a 10 lane freeway outside coming up the wall to her unit.
Dick_Sonia
16 years ago
Ants are secondary infestors, i.e., they're not interested in your house plants per se, they are farming the aphids or scale crawlers that infested your plants at some earlier point. You probably have scale crawlers (which are just about invisible to the naked eye). Once you take care of the primary infestation, there will be nothing to keep the ants interested in your house plants.
Related Discussions
Thujopsis dolobrata needs new home - SF Bay Area only
Q
Comments (0)
I have a Thujopsis dolobrata in a container that has outgrown my yard in Berkeley. The container is 30" diameter, and 28" height. The trunk is 5" at the base, and the tree is about 13 feet high. So it will take some doing to move it. Trucks, ramps, sturdy dollies, strong men and women might be some of the necessary tools! The good news is it a pretty straight shot down a wide walk and the driveway. It is a special, rare tree and it's my hope that someone will want it and be able to move it. I'm not looking for any plants in particular to trade .... it's free... but if you've got something you'd like to trade, let me know and maybe there will be a place for it in my garden.
...See More
HPs against a house in SF Bay Area?
Q
Comments (4)
Kristi, we grow roses down here in coastal Ventura Co. up against a South-facing retaining wall. Air flow isn't a problem, but reflected heat from the wall HAS been a problem, burning canes badly in many cases. Finally, we put latticework panels up against the wall, and that breaks the impact somewhat. Your area is (in my experience) warmer than ours, so that can be a problem. As the plants mature, if they acquire that "bare-at-the-bottom" look, you might plant dwarf lavender (or something of the sort) at the feet of the roses, to protect those bare canes. BEWARE of 'La Reine.' (Upright, but short) She's beautiful, but can have some real mildew problems. We've had better luck with "Barbara's Pasture Rose,' (Upright, rounded bush) which I can best describe as "La Reine On Steroids." She is far healthier, in my experience. She comes to my mind because I THINK there will be some plants for sale at the Sacramento City Cemetery on 4/21. 'Reine des Violettes' (arching growth, or climber) should have no disease problems, and it's a real beauty. If conditions are alkaline (and house foundations can contribute to this) she may have problems with chlorosis. Honestly, I prefer "Forest Ranch Pom-Pom, which for some reason does NOT have chlorosis problems. But if you go with 'La Reine,' prepare to ammend conditions to suit her fancy. Ulrich Brunner Fils -- We have not grown. Beware powdery mildew problems with roses in this color class, particularly as a child of Paul Neyron. Grandmother's Hat (quite upright) should be bullet proof for you. Once she begins to mature, she should be disease-free, and a fast repeater. Fragrance and vase life will both please you. Jeri
...See More
Bay Area Majesty..just like home..
Q
Comments (8)
Given a good micro climate such as a south east wall; there are many fairly large majesty palms growing in my neighborhood Sugar Land, Texas. My Woodyetia survived 25-28 unprotected against a SE wall. (50% leaf burn) I do pour on the Epsom salts in the early fall. My Spindle palm didn't make it. Rot at the base of the trunk.
...See More
Mystery Plant Next to House, Northern CA, Bay Area
Q
Comments (4)
You could use Paint program to write labels on pics & store them in a folder for access later. The garden.org site I pasted above also has a handy list feature. You could create a list of plants (and sub-lists, with whatever name you decide) to indicate cultivated plants, weeds you've previously ID'd, whatever categories would help you.
...See More
softmentor
16 years ago
not all ants are aphid farmers although that is a possibility. If you moved the pot and saw that many, they are probably nesting in that pot.
I have found that the oil that spritzes out of the rind of citrus makes a good natural ant repellent. Take a citrus rind fold it in half and oil will spritz out of the rind. Spritz your pots and you will find the ants don't like being there any more. I find that lemon and orange work best. The rind must be fresh, not old and dried out.
sumcool
16 years ago
This may seem strange, but it worked for me.
Cut up a cucumber into slices, then put the slices where you see them entering your home. Maybe they don't like the smell?
napapen
16 years ago
I use a houseplant systemic granular pest killer on house plants. It goes into the leaves and as the sucking, chewing pests eat they die. Then the ants will leave. Altho in orchids I usually dunk the whole pot in water and the ants move out but before they do, hit them with more water or soap insecticide Penny
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
16 years ago
Ants are so easy to control around the house foundation, I don't understand why anyone puts up with them IN the house. Al
palourich_gmail_com
13 years ago
i have a lot of house plants too and every winter the ants will move into my plants. i find they are there when i have let the plants get too dry and then water a swarm comes out. what i did this time is: isolate the plant, water the plant well. vacumn up the ants up that will swarm out of the pot. to those of you who revert to poison please stop. we put way too much into our earth that is toxic.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Garden Combo: 3 Wonderful Plants for a Deer-Resistant Screen

Protect your privacy and keep deer at bay with a planting trio that turns a problem garden area into a highlight

INSPIRING GARDENS An Award-Winning Landscape Embraces Bay Views

By Annie Thornton

Once overgrown and lackluster, these California garden areas now thoughtfully enhance the incredible view

EVENTS Colors and Patterns Wow at the 2015 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Go on a virtual tour as 22 designers put on a beautiful interior fashion show in NYC’s Arthur Sachs mansion

DESIGNER SHOWCASES Glamour and Colors Rule at 2016 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

By Rikki Snyder

See how 21 designers from around the U.S. outfitted a 1940 townhouse with vivid wall treatments and edgy furnishings

GARDENING GUIDES Invite Mining Bees to Your Garden by Planting Their Favorite Plants

By Pollination Press LLC

Look for mining bees (Andrena) pollinating woodland wildflowers in U.S. gardens this spring

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Penobscot Bay Renovation

By Becky Harris

Second home provides a spot for family gatherings and new hobbies

EDIBLE GARDENS Garden BFFs? Why Your Vegetables Are Begging for Companion Plants

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Foster friendships among plants for protection from pests, pollination support and color camaraderie

WINDOWS The Best Uses for a Bay Window

By Liz Miller Interiors

See how to furnish a bay window or merely enjoy the view more, in both casual and formal settings

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Retreat to the Shade of Hardy Catalpa

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Big foliage and a towering height provide a shady respite in summer, but that's not all hardy catalpa offers dedicated gardeners

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: In Washington, a Modern Beauty on the Bay

By Bryan Anthony

A concrete, cedar and glass contemporary Northwest home opens directly to the water

Sponsored

More Discussions

too little sun for UC Verde, or other buff? zone 22

6

suburban raccoon - should I do anything?

1

Do you defoliate your roses?

18

Cercis occidentalis from seed collected today 2/14/24

5

What type of oak is this? zone 9b/10a SF East Bay

2