Ants are always looking for new homes and food sources for their colony. Like trying to keep other critters out of your garden, preventing ants from nesting in plant pots dovetails from controlling access to food and shelter. As ants seek shelter and protection for their colonies, plants offer convenient hiding spots. Plant pots provide a suitable nesting habitat with loose, well-draining soil that creates an ideal environment to build nests and tunnels. Additionally, ants are attracted to the sweet honeydew secreted by aphids and other sap-sucking insects, which they use as a food source. And, with potted plants, the ants receive shelter and protection from predators and the environment. Finally, the potted plants offer warmth, especially for dark-colored containers, which retain heat that provides a suitable environment for ant colonies. As a result, this symbiotic relationship between ants and potted plants (especially those that yield honeydew-producing pests) often leads to ant infestations.