Basically, ants are definitely useful for plants. However, under certain circumstances they can also harm them. Please note the following tips and advice.
Do ants damage plants?
An ant nest in theroot areacan damage the stability and nutrient supply of plants. In this case, you should relocate the ant nest. Ants on the leaves can be a signal ofaphid infestation. Get rid of the pests with a soft soap solution.
Do ants damage the roots of plants?
Basically, ants arebeneficial insects The animals loosen the soil and break up organic materials. In doing so, they prepare the decomposition of materials into humus, which is carried out by microorganisms and are quite useful for plants. However, if an entire nest of ants settles in the root ball of plants, it can cause problems. The ants undermine the roots. This causes the plant to lose stability and the supply from bottom to top is interrupted.
Do ants damage the leaves of plants?
Ant infestation on a plant can indicateAphids. The ants themselves do not harm the plant. However, this is how aphids protect themselves from natural enemies. The aphid secretes a sticky residue that the ants eat. The so-called honeydew sticks together the leaves of the plant, hinders plant metabolism and promotes fungal attack. If you see an ant infestation that indicates aphids, you should definitely take action. Otherwise, subsequent problems could arise.
How do I treat a plant with ant infestation?
First spray the leaves with a strongwater jet and then treat the plant with a soft soap solution. You create the solution as follows:
- Dissolve 50 grams of soft soap in one liter of water.
- Add neem oil.
- Fill solution into spray bottle.
- Treat the plant several times with it.
After three weeks at the latest, the aphids should be gone and there should no longer be any sticky residue on the leaves of the plant. This means that ants no longer appear.
How do I relocate an ant nest under plants?
Fill aflower potwithwood wool and place it over the ant nest. Give the ants about a week. The animals then move into the protected pot with their eggs. Then slide a spade under the pot. You can then move the flower pot with the ants to a distant location and relocate the animals. In this way you do not harm the ant colony and gently move the animals to another location.
Tip
Use proven home remedies to combat ants on plants
You don't have to attack ants on plants with chemical weapons straight away. There are many home remedies that you can use to interrupt an ant trail and combat the animals gently but effectively. This will prevent animals or chemicals from damaging the plants.