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| "I have worms in the soil of my house plant". On further investigation, this is not a worm, but a millipede. When just touching them, they curl into a tight spring like circle. |
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| Here's a closer view. Not to worry, millipede's eat decaying plant matter. As you can see, the darker areas within the millipede are in fact soil. They help to decompose vegetation. So they are a good thing. However, when numerous are found, they may eat fine roots of the potted plant. So removal is necessary if you want to optimize plant health. |
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| Easy to detect, as they curl immediately when touched. |
House plant soil is primarily peat based and a great place for millipedes to hide and nest. There were over 15 found in the above pot - one house plant pot. This potted house plant was brought outdoors during the summer months and I believe the millipede laid an egg stash and once brought into the house, they hatched. Sometimes you find them in your house plant pots because they look to find food or a nesting area when they've made it into your home. They have a great purpose: to accelerate the breakdown of organic plant matter, acting as "macro-decomposers." If you find them in your house plants, remove them to your garden or compost bin. They sure are helpful creatures!
Thanks for this info. I had no idea what millepedes do! And 'm relieved to know they're easy to remove and not going to kill my plant. On another note, I assume they're the same as centipedes (more legs?). When I lived in the rainforest in Suriname I had one in my cabin that was 6 inches long! Scary!
ReplyDeleteMillipedes and centipedes are different. Centipedes have a nasty bite and venom - you definitely want to avoid them! They are fast moving, somewhat flat, and hard to kill. I don't know of any benefit they provide to human life here on earth!
ReplyDeleteYes, I've heard folks south of the border telling me about such bites. Although, I've not known anyone getting bit by centipedes in Ontario. I will say though, centipedes help eliminate unwanted insects in the garden/home and help aerate soil. They have their purpose. Just be wise around them. Having gardened now for over 15 years, I've never been bit and see thousands a year...doing their thing.
DeleteDoes anyone know how to rid the houseplant of these things? Seem to be multiplying overnight. Indoor Christmas cactus (June thru early Oct. I put outside on the deck) this is the first time i have experienced these guys
ReplyDeleteYou can expect any outdoor insect will invade any plant brought outdoors for the summer. That's the risk you take.
Deletehi Heidi - I have a table full of indoor plants, which have never been outside. I am trying to control my little fruit fly/gnat problem trying different spray products. I sprayed "Garden Safe" houseplant insect killer on them a few days ago. Well this morning on my table were 2 of those little brown worms, which i assumed came out the the dirt because of the spray. my question is how would they get in there in the first place if the plants have never been outside? thank you!
DeleteYou have to remember, these are not exclusive to outdoor. Millipedes are not fussy. They just want a damp, moist area to live and food to eat. You may have brought them in from the original growers or from the soil you used to pot up the plants. Eggs can be transferred unknowingly.
Deletethank you Heidi. Do you have a product to recommend to get rid of those pesky black (fruit?) flies/gnats. They are everywhere! I have tried a couple of spray products to no avail and I have apple cider cups all over my house. thanks
ReplyDeleteMake sure your plant is well watered a few days before. Then mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with four parts water. It must be a low 3% HP, or it will burn the roots. Allow the top layer of your soil to dry, and then water your plants with this solution as you normally would. The soil will fizz for a few minutes after application; this is normal. The fungus gnat larvae will die on contact with the hydrogen peroxide. The adults may hover around, but at least you can reapply the solution to rid the next generation. Try allowing your plants to dry out - as fungus gnats require moist conditions to multiply.
DeleteThank you Heidi! Is it the same treatment to remove the millipedes or something else?
DeleteStop watering the house plant pot that has the millipedes. I would place damp paper towel beneath the pot (ones with holes) and the millipedes will gather there. Lift the pot and remove/collect the millipedes. I wouldn't use chemical treatments, as you will need to soak the pots for lengthy time and using chemicals like those indoors is toxic.
DeleteAbout the gnats, I found an all natural spray at Home Depot or Lowe’s the got rid of the gnats and didn’t hurt the plants.
DeleteThank you Heidi for the info. On millipedes, I just moved to a new home and suddenly I saw these worms all over my tile floors, do you think they can also be underneath the wood of my couches?
ReplyDeleteMillipedes require moisture and a food source. Decaying matter is what they need. I don't think you have anything like that under your couch - however, if you have plant material dotted throughout the house, millipedes can look for hideaway spots, away from dry, bright conditions. They will hide under anything that gives them shelter.
DeleteFor gnats I had to remove all the dirt and replace it with fresh dirt. That’s the only way I got rid of them
ReplyDeleteHi! I bought a begonia last month and it had a kind of worms that are a lot alike the ones you show in the pics. But they build webs on the plant and eat the leaves. Some leaves have holes and some just fall. Half of the plant is already gone. Are there some kind of other worms like caterpillars that could be looking alike the ones you showed? How can I get rid of them?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know, since I have no photo to aid in identification. But my post isn't showcasing worms - the title suggests folks think they are worms. Millepedes are what my post explain. I would investigate first by looking up The National Begonia Society and check "pests and disease" on their website. I am certain you will find what's eating your begonias. Usually when plants are under attack, they are not doing well from the get-go. To make sure you save the plant, take cuttings of your begonia and root them.
DeleteHi Heidi, your responses are very helpful and from reading these comments I think I now know what type of bugs I keep finding around my Palm plant and Money tree. Millipedes... Problem is I don't exactly know which of the plants they are coming from. They seem to appear a couple days after I've watered the plants. Sometimes I find them later curled up and dried up outside the pot. They look like the centipedes but more fatter, shorter and not as brown in color. From the previous comment I read you mentioned that they are good for plants so I shouldn't worry, right? Also for the life of me I can't seem to keep my Palm plant alive and vibrant. I water it often but the leaves are so dry still. How often would you recommend I water it? I look forward to your response.
ReplyDeleteI can't comment until I know the ID of the "bugs". There are dozens of "palms" some needing more moisture others not. Making sure your plant dries out between watering is key. I'm sorry - but your info is too vague.
DeleteI had these in one of my plants. I took the plant outside sprayed the roots down with a garden hose. Then put it in fresh soil. Hope that was the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem never seen this before we repotted our large plants with soil brought from lowes had some wood debris in it and my husband over water all the time help
ReplyDeleteAdditionally choose if you'd lean toward a neighborhood or public expulsion organization. Neighborhood organizations can be more useful and amicable, while public expulsion organizations may have more expert certifications.furniture removals north london
ReplyDeleteI'd never seen or heard of millipedes Until I moved from MA to NC. Millipedes in the bottom of the windows between the screens and window panes dead but some were black and some were white. Some stretched out and some curled in bedroom closets, some boldly in my pathways around the house. It's my understanding that the apartment was vacant for several months and I don't know if that had anything to do with the invasion. I've been very impressed with how long they can stay absolutely still which is why the dog has given up trying to figure out what they do and she walks away after a couple of pats with her paw. When it rains the dirt path to get from the apartment door and the grass becomes saturated and it feels like quicksand getting out. After it's all over it takes awhile for the water to subside then there's always 6 or 8 millipedes on the sidewalk directly in front of the apartment door.
ReplyDeleteThere ants, spiders, cockroaches that come by but thank goodness I've only seen one. The manager pf the complex told me that all the apartments get sprayed twice a year. It was recently done and because I have parrots they could only spray the exterior of mine. I wasn't sure how that would work but my dog found a cockroach shell and a body in the spare room. However, the millipedes are back!
I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas if there's a way to lay something on the dirt so I can take the dog out on her pee breaks without getting sucked into the mud. Jazzy's found a way to go around the muck but this old lady is a lot larger than a 17 lb. Jack Russell! Not something permanent although the management's been great here! Thanks in advance!
Do they eat the leaves of a spider plant?
ReplyDeleteThank you great read🤗🙌
ReplyDeleteWe literally have at least 50 in the soil of our 2 palm trees. We think we removed them all, then they are back. We keep the plants moist as otherwise the palms get brown on tips. The plants have never been outside, so they must have been like that at the store. The larvae crawl across the carpet. Our Jack Russell Terrior is not amused by them. Is the 3 percent hydrogen peroxide the best way to treat without harming the plant?
ReplyDelete