Get out of my house!

Houseplant—Not Mouse Plant! What to do when Mice Take a Liking to Your Houseplants

24 July 2017 by Devon Perez

Mice can find their way into your home in a number of ways. And because they are nocturnal and extremely stealthy, you may never know that they were there. That is until they pay a visit to your houseplants. While many potted houseplants are toxic to mice, such as the split-leaf philodendron and the azalea plant (rhododendrons), mice may nibble on the leaves of some of the less toxic varieties. However, what usually interests mice about houseplants is not the leaves but the location.

Because mice are so small, the soil around potted houseplants, especially around the larger plants, provides the perfect location for a nesting site, or even a good place to store food.

Burrowing Mice Can Kill Your Plants

The worst thing about mice in your houseplants is that they may eventually kill them. When mice burrow into the soil around a houseplant, they may tunnel right down to the root system of the plant, decimating the roots and causing the plant to starve to death. If you notice holes in the soil around your plants, and dirt on the floor, a mouse or two may have set up home in the soil beneath your plant.

You should first take the plant outside. Then gently remove it from the pot. If the mice are still inside the soil, they will make a hasty getaway. However, you will now need to take steps to ensure that they do not return. However, if you have children or pets, using poisons and snap-traps also puts them at risk. Therefore, you should opt to deter rather than kill.

Purchase Some Peppermint Plants

Mice have a very keen sense of smell. That's why they tend to stay clear of plants that have pungent aromas, such as peppermint plants. Place several peppermint plants throughout your house, near your other houseplants and in the areas you suspect the mice may be gaining entry, to keep mice at bay.

Remove the Buried Treats and Sprinkle Peppermint Oil

Determined mice may still continue to return to houseplants if they have buried some particularly tasty morsels in the soil. Dig through the soil, and then remove any mouse snacks you find there. Then fill in the hole and sprinkle peppermint oil on the rim of the plant pot to keep the mice from returning. You will need to re-sprinkle the oil every 1-2 days if you haven't managed to rid your home of the mice yet.

When mice infest your home, they can be difficult to remove. If you are tired of trying to shift mice from your home or are limited in what you can do because of pets or children, it may be time to call in a pest control service. They can help you remove the problem and identify the likely entry points the mice are using to gain entry to your home. 

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