How to get rid of earthworms in pot? (forum)

Db starts with ...
Can someone please let me know how to get rid of earthworms from pot? Yesterday I temporarily removed mulch in few pots just to check potting mix condition as my mix is not holding water now a days and I have to water EVERY day now a days. Potting mix in those pot looked very loose, so I just put finger in mix and it went straight in without any resistance, it was very loose. In all those pots I saw worms on top and they went straight in when I opened mulch... I'm sure all of my pots has lots of worms, they are good in garden soil but not in pot.. They seems to be breaking down organic matter completely in the mix and that's why mix is not holding water... Worms might be also eating roots causing damage to young plants like I have..

Is there any way to get rid of them from pot and any other fix?

Time: 3rd December 2012 4:53pm

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About the Author Db
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Julie says...
Worms don't eat roots - they only eat dead or decaying matter. They do break down organic material, but it is returned to the soil - the nutrients are then more available to the plant.

I would never get rid of worms in a pot - I don't think they do any harm.

Time: 3rd December 2012 9:08pm

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About the Author Julie
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MaryT says...
I agree with Julie. I have lots of pots and I see lots of worms whenever I repot; the larger the pot the bigger the worms. I have come to the conclusion that they're OK.

Time: 3rd December 2012 9:40pm

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About the Author MaryT
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Db says...
Thanks Julie and MaryT, in that case one less thing to worry about :)

Time: 4th December 2012 8:52am

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gary41 says...
I added compost to my usual media in potted plants, but over time some plants were doing poorly. One branch would die off for no reason. In looking at the media, I found earthworms. All of these plants were then re-potted. I found earthworms in the soil of most and in the root ball of some, with severe damage. I had to wash out all the soil & re-pot anew. Of 50 plants I lost about 5 of the ones with severe damage. Absolutely never add compost to potted plants.

Time: 17th August 2013 1:01pm

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Julie says...
gary, I used to sell a large range of herbs in pots, all organically grown. People often told me how well they grew, and how healthy the plants were.

The main ingredient was home made compost. There is no way compost or worms could harm your plants. I don't know what's wrong, but it's not either of these. If it was, you would have lost more than 10% - they would all have died.

PS If worms ate plant roots organic market gardeners (and home gardeners) would be in big trouble - we'd have no food! They see large numbers of worms as a sign of healthy soil.

What did you feed your plants? Have you checked the pH?

Just had a thought. Slaters may eat plant roots, and can cause a lot of damage. Have you checked for these?



Time: 18th August 2013 7:41pm

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Original Post was last edited: 19th August 2013 9:16pm

About the Author Julie
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gary41 says...
I'm just telling you what I found in my breeding stock. These are vines growing for many years and not herbs. My water is slightly alkaline, so my pH is adjusted between 6.5-7.0 (slightly acidic, because this is appropriate for my plants. I feed alfalfa tea and rose type fertilizer, all of which are measured and fed on a schedule each year. (I also breed and show roses) You can believe anything you want, with your herbs, but my practical experience stands for itself and will never be repeated. Since then I've heard other gardeners say the same thing. Once the compost is gone, they will eat anything available.

Time: 22nd August 2013 7:21am

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