EARTHWORMS!!!! HELP!!

[Ray]

Worms won't live in just orchid bark. Sounds like your medium has decomposed to be close enough to "soil" for them.

Repot!!!


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Ray

Worms won't live in just orchid bark. Sounds like your medium has decomposed to be close enough to "soil" for them.

Repot!!!

That was my first thought as well. Worms can only survive in orchid mix that has turned to mush.

[ALToronto]

I disagree, Ray. I have earthworms living in the catch basins of my living walls, in constantly wet lava rock and what little organic matter falls in there.

OP - I love earthworms and would never want to get rid of them. They break down organic matter into nutrients for plants - how can that be bad! If you're creeped out by beneficial insects and invertebrates, perhaps you should stay away from all living things, plants included. They don't do well in sterile environments, they need to be part of an ecosystem.

Does it also disgust you that you have thousands of species of microorganisms residing in your body?

[Leafmite]

Everyone has fears so let us not be too harsh. I really hate millipedes, the ones with the long legs and hairs that stick out everywhere. My husband is the heroic slayer of millipedes.

You might want to try LECA or lava rock as a medium. It dries out too much to make a comfortable place for an earthworm to live and there is not enough organic material if you keep dead leaves and such cleaned up. Good luck!

[desertanimal]

Millipedes with hairs that stick out all over? What kind is that?

[Leafmite]

No idea but they are very, very fast...and jump. They also like to hide and burst out of hiding when you least expect it. They can be about two inches in length. I have had a few hide in my orchid pots and it has been awful! And, no, I am not going to post pictures of these because I am not going to get close enough to take them. :|
Maybe they aren't called millipedes but they have many legs. ?

[801229001]

My plants definitely have good, fresh media since i repot every 6 months to a year depending on the species. Also the media is almost always quite nice looking when i do repot. Sometimes the media in the pots of the water loving phrags is broken down but that's it.

also i found this interesting link about how earthworms can be harmful to orchids in a search for a way to get rid of them: History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian

[Fernando]

Not harmful at all, and a must in organic farming. But in a pot, there is not enough space for them, sure it got there by accident, hiding - there is no reason there should be egg-clups or young.
Water the pod, the earthworm try to reach the air after a while. Ask someone for help - most people like them and even hold them in ther hands. Have to be quick though, earthworms are shy... and try to manage your phobia, too.
Luck!

[Subrosa]

Let's not forget they are a non native invasive in the US.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Let's not forget they are a non native invasive in the US.

So are we!