Milipedes in media

[gerneveyn]

Do they just help break down the bark? Or do they nibble on orchid roots?

[ryanmor]

ew, had this problem when i brought my orchids back in for the winter. I submerged the whole pot in water and the milipedes floated away.....

[Tindomul]

I agree, do the same. Or find some other way to asfixiate the millipedes.

[Ray]

They probably eat something associated with organic decomposition, so their presence is a good indicator that it's time to repot!

Do they damage roots directly? I don't know, and I don't know if this parallel is valid, but consider fungus gnat larvae - they eat fungus growing on decomposing organic matter - until the population outstrips the fungal growth, then they do go after roots.

[Marty]

You may try this. Worked like a charm on millipedes

http://www.orchidboard.com/eliminate...pests-with-co2

[ryanmor]

wow very cool pest control method there marty. might hav e to try that on a mealibug infested plant of mine....

[Heather]

I'm with Ray on this one - definitely time to change the media.

Millipedes are my WORST nightmare, and I have to say I've only ever seen them in a plant when it's been upon arrival from a vendor, and the mix has been mush. Thank heavens!

[gerneveyn]

Thanks for the replies. I had this problem awhile back and was just curious as to what kind of damage if any they do to the plant.

[Mahon]

Out of curioisity, what kind of orchid is in the media, and what type of media?

I don't know if milipedes are good or bad, so I personally never took the chance (or time).

-Pat

[gerneveyn]

The milipedes were in my cym's media, which was a bark mix. The plant grew fine so I didn't repot it immediately, and when I did I switched to s/h.