Question
well well for the third time in 3 years i found little "piss" ants or midget ants if you like in  a house plant.  in all three cases the plants were bone dry but not dying from lack of water.  the first time it was in a large hanging generic foliage plant.  the ants came poring out of the pot when i watered it.  the plastic bottom container that hold the extra water was full of ants and eggs.  i took it outside and hosed it off good roots and all.  it was repotted and no more ants since.  about a month ago i watered a small cactus and ants came out of that too.  yesterday it was an aloe that had the ants in it.  none any of these plants go out on the porch for the summer.  it is only one plant in a room it happens to but not the plant next to it.  where are the ants coming from and how do i stop it.  do i water more often?  this is annoying for sure.  any ideas would be helpful.  i have close to 300 small medium and large plants in the house.  most are cactus but not all.  thank you from your time.

Answer
Sue,

I have a lot of house plants too and every fall the ants will move into one or two of my plants trying to find a cozy place for the queen for the winter. I find they are there when I have let the plants get too dry and then water and a swarm of ants comes out. What I do usually is: isolate the plant then water the plant well. Then vacuum up the ants up that will swarm out of the pot. Then remove the drain tray set the plant in the sink and water the plant with 2 parts water mixed with 1 part rubbing alcohol and a teaspoon of dish soap and then let the excess drain down the sink so you cactus is not overwatered. That will kill any remaining ants.

Other suggestions Baby powder the surfaces around your plants-for some reason, ants hate it.  Sprinkle around the area where they are getting in. Put White Vinegar-put into spray bottle and spray around the plants on the counters,on your door sills,the ants hate it and will not cross it but do not get it on the plants or on the soil because it will kill plants. You can use it as a weed killer.  I have also heard to use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar. Once I kill the ants in the one or 2 pots I find them in I usually do not find them in others the rest of the winter. To prevents them entirely you might want to try these last hints around the first of August. Good luck!