White worms in the ground of potted flowersis a surprising sight, especially with freshly purchased plants. However, moist soil in flower pots is favorable for the development of pests such as springtails, larvae of earthworms and larvae of beetles. See how to distinguish these pests from each other and learn about the simplesthome remedies to get rid of worms from flower soil , thanks to which you will avoid the use of chemical pesticides in your home. Here are the most popular3 species of insects inhabiting the soil of potted plantsand ways to combat them.
Leaping white worms in the soil of potted flowers are springtails
Springtails - white worms that jump
Springtails are small (0.2-10 mm)white or bluish insects inhabiting organic substratesTheir name comes from the presence of ankle forks, located on the underside of the abdomen. Thanks to these forks, they can jump and move. When we blow towards the plant or when we move the pot, springtails begin to jump and hide under the clods of soil.
Springtails inhabit wet soilUsually they are not dangerous to plants, and even useful because they feed on decaying plant debris and produce humus. However, when they are very numerous, they can damage delicate, juicy parts of plants. As a result, the growth of potted flowers (especially young ones) is inhibited and the roots may be damaged.However, such situations happen very rarely. Most oftenthese white worms enter our homes in bags with flower soil
Springtails can be easily disposed of at homeby transplanting the plant to a fresh substrate and a clean pot. Oftento get rid of these white worms from the ground, it is enough to dry the soil in a pot , then they will disappear by themselves. The pot with the plant can also be immersed in water - springtails will drown and float to the surface.
Prophylactically, you can put the Provado Care fertilizer and insecticide sticks in the soil (1 stick per 1 liter of substrate). Chemical control and springtails spraying are unnecessary.
Earthworms - white larvae in the soil for flowers
Earthworms, often called black flies, are tiny black insects, with their shape and size resembling a fruit fly. While watering, they fly above the pot. They appear where there is high ground humidity - that is, on frequently watered plants.They are a common problem in the cultivation of orchids and insectivorous plants.
Adult earthlings are considered very nuisance insects, but they do not directly harm potted flowers. The plants are threatened by theirwhite larvae feeding near the plant rootsThey are about 5 mm long, white, transparent, with a shiny black head. The larvae of the earthworms feed on dead organic matter, but it is common for them to nibble at root hairs and roots and dig into channels. Damaged root sites are the site of bacterial and fungal infections. As a consequence, plants, especially young ones, wilt and die.
The least invasive method of combating is catching adult potato plants. Adults are attracted to yellow sticky plaques placed in the corners of the pots.A home-made way to treat potatoesis to lure adults into containers filled with water (approx. 125 ml) mixed with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and a yellow dye (e.g. turmeric).The smell of vinegar and the yellow color attract earthlings that melt in the solution.
Female potato plants need a lot of organic matter to lay eggs. Therefore, the top layer of the substrate in the pot should be covered with a thin layer of sand. This will prevent the laying of the eggs and, consequently,the appearance of white worms in the ground with flowers .
It is also worth placing the Provado Care insecticide sticks in the pots (1 stick per 1 liter of substrate).
The white worms that are already feeding in the ground, i.e. the larvae of earthwormsare removed by immersing the pot in water to rinse them from the substrate. In order to combat the larvae of dugot larvae, plants can be watered with Karate Zeon 050 SC (dilute 0.5 ml of the agent in 1 liter of water). Watering is carried out twice every 10-14 days. Remember, however, that it is a chemical plant protection product and you have to be very careful when using it.
If you do not want to use chemical preparations, a natural and safe to use solution is a very good and practical solutionNeemAzal T / S, designed to combat earthworms .
The natural ingredient of NeemAzal T / S are compounds from the limonoid group, which are very effective in repelling insects. These are compounds of plant origin (phytosterols) found mainly in citrus fruits.
You can water or spray plants with this agent . It is suitable for the cultivation of ornamental potted plants, but also vegetables and herbs, which are very often attacked by black flies. It can be used in organic farming.
For treating earthworms, use NeemAzal T / Sin the amount of 5 ml of the preparation per 1 liter of water. Both water and spray the plants with this solution.
White larvae of the otic beetle
The strawberry opuchlak is a small (8-11 mm) beetle that is a pest of balcony, terrace and garden plants. Its specific lifestyle and the resistance of the larvae to protection measures make it difficult to control.Pests are brought into homes with the purchase of plants in whichpots may contain white larvae
During the day, adults hide in the ground and only in the evening, in the dark, climb the plant to feed. They cause characteristic damage to the leaves - they bite sinus-shaped holes in the leaf blade. They are particularly eager to attack azaleas, cyclamens, begonias and hydrangeas.
A more dangerous threat iswhite marshmallow larvae living in the groundand feeding on plant roots. They are whitish, 8-12 mm long, with a brown head. The larvae bite barrel-shaped holes in the roots and eat the tiny roots whole. As a result, growth is stunted, plants wilt and die.
White worms in the ground - grubs, beetle larvae
Adult weirs feed in spring, while theirwhite larvae in the groundare active all year round.Therefore, if there are no typical symptoms on the leaves, and the plant withers despite watering, remove the flower from the pot and inspect its roots. We clean the roots of the lump of earth and examine them carefully. If we noticebitten holes or white wormson them, then we start fighting them. Rinse the affected roots thoroughly under a stream of running water toget rid of all the larvae and any swollen eggsAfter removing the larvae, cut off the damaged roots with a pruner. Plant the cleaned plant in fresh soil and a clean pot.
Adult swollen mushrooms are caught at night, when they emerge on the surface of the soil. Plants are illuminated with a flashlight, when a beam of sunlight hits a beetle, it falls to the ground. Then we collect all the insects. Another way is to lure adults into a trap, which is an upside down pot, under which we place yew shoots. We rest the edge of the pot on a piece of plank so that the beetle has easy access to the inside of the trap.In the morning, remove the lured beetles.
Chemical protection measures are a more radical form of fighting swelling. When you notice symptoms on the leaves, in the evening, spray the affected plants with contact preparations, eg Sumi-Alfa 050 EC (5 ml / l of water). Unfortunately, onwhite larvae in the ground , this measure does not work, we will only fight adult beetles.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
