Worm question

[Becca]

Hi! I have a Blc Gold Bug that is in about a 3 inch sized pot. I accidently bumped it off onto the floot the other day and the plant and bark came tumbling out of the container. When I was trying to put it all back together I noticed a teeny tiny worm wiggling on a piece of the bark. Can anyone tell me what it might be, if it is harmful, and if the worm might some how spread to my other plants? What should I use to get rid of it? Thanks!

[Tindomul]

What color was it? Transparent, white? I see a lot of worms in my pots and vivariums and non have ever killed my plants or orchids. So if that had happened to me I would not be worried.

[Becca]

I think it was a white color. I am not to overly worried about it since the plant looks pretty healthy. Thank you for replying!

[Lagoon]

I've seen these a few times a numbers of different types from brown to white. Apparently they are attracted to decomposing bark or media. I'm not convinced that they don't chew on roots, since my orchids didn't grow much until I got them ALL out.

You can try to chase them out by just soaking ur plant in the sink or bucket or whatever you have to work with.
It might take a few soaks but you should be able to get most of them by drowning, many will come to the surface.
You can use DE or even some tea like you would a regular cup of tea without the milk and sugar that is
Then pour this into 1 liter of water and pour thru the plant. This works very well on ants too, and the best of all ... no poisons

[dave b]

More than likely, they are nematodes. Ive found them mostly in my phrag pots. When i leave the pots sitting in water dishes, they will sometimes leach out and be swimming in the water, till they drown. Ive tried researching them, but the amount of data on the web is daunting. There are 10 of thousands if not 100s of thousands of species. They live in soils, decompose wood, eat fungus, bacteria, some are parasitic and eat other nemas. There are many types that eat plant roots and cause disease like symptoms.

I have repotted any of the phrags i seemed to have them in. I thoroughly rinsed the roots and washed in a very light water/dish soap bath. ive also sprayed the roots lightly w my general houseplant / ornamental insect spray. (safer brand and types, nothing extreme). i honestly dont know if i still have them. The plants have been doing fine.

Id still like to know exactly what they are, and would pass on the info if i ever get the time to really investigate it.

[Helen]

Gloria, What does DE stand for? thx

[smartie2000]

I think the 'worm' would be more interested in decaying material than orchid roots

[Shadow]

Some 'worms' harm the roots, others don't harm. But I've never tried to identify them. I try to get rid of all worms I see.

[Oscarman]

I think Gloria is referring to is Diatomaceous Earth.

It is a non-toxic, safe substance made up from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. Crushed to a fine powder and observed through a microscope, the particles resemble bits of broken glass. Deadly to any insect and completely harmless to animals, fish, fowl or food.

Shadow....I love that

[Lagoon]

Yes that's it, Thanks Dave