Keep Ants Out Of Your Planters Using One Kitchen Scrap

Have ants in your plants? Here's the buzz on one potential solution to evicting those pesky invaders. Attracted to pests like aphids, and the sugary sweet substance they leave behind, ants can dig into and build tunnels in your houseplants. That bug busywork can affect the root system in a confined space such as a planter. But here's the pick-me-up: the solution to repelling these tiny nuisances may be a popular staple that's already sitting in your kitchen — in your coffee maker, in fact.

The idea is that used coffee grounds affect ants' scent trails. Ants use their pheromones to communicate with one another regarding food sources, and the odor of the coffee grounds can overwhelm them, leading to a confusion that can mess up those signals. A 2018 study conducted at the University of Science Malaysia showed that extracts of Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora, and Coffea liberica had the potential to repel the three types of ants studied (Ghost, Big-headed, and Pharaoh).

Unlike your favorite cup of joe, the evidence concerning the effectiveness of this trick isn't super strong. Here's what you should know: Those that swear by the method recommend placing freshly brewed grounds directly onto the ant hills or any pathways you witness. But reviews are mixed. Wizzie Brown, integrated pest management specialist for AgriLife Extension in Travis County, reported no difference after spreading a cup of grounds on fire ants' hills several times over a 30-day period. But another gardening pro said that ants reversed course when they encountered the coffee. However, much like the pep a steaming cup of java puts in your step, the effect can be temporary. Once the ants find a way to maneuver around the coffee, they'll be back at it.

The most effective strain is Arabica coffee, with Craig Sansig, a certified entomologist and service director of Viking Pest Control, telling The Spruce that it offers "some repellency to some ant species." So, if that's your brew of choice, there's no harm in pouring one out once you've finished your daily mug. Just keep in mind that it may work better as a preventative hack rather than fully deterring ants once they've set up shop. And if you'd like to boost the effectiveness, there are plenty of other ways to get rid of ants. Spraying a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water can also mess with the scent trails, as can a blend of Borax and sugar.