Beware! Repotting Danger!

[natasha]

Last Wednesday I decided to repot a den of mine. I saw two new growth, but they are sandwiched between the old growth and the side of the pot. So I pulled out the plant out of the pot and started to pull off the charcoal pieces. Then, the yuck factor came in. I put some rabbit manure as part of my experiment, so I decided to hose off the yucky muck. Then something came out... OMG! I was so lucky I have decided to hose the plant and not stick my fingers there. The something was a red centipede! Not a baby, about 3-4 inches long! I could have been bitten! I sent my 3 cats into the house, try to calm down and repot back the plant really really carefully... Another baby centipede came out later. Both centipedes gone to hiding somewhere, hopefully not in my orchid pots.

I wish to be more careful next time when repotting, and hope none of us end up in hospital during repotting.

[Zoi2]

What a nasty surprise, good thing you hosed the roots instead of using your fingers.
Joann

[natasha]

Yeah Joann, I never meet anything like that so closely before. Millipedes yes. I love to straightly just pluck out all the old stuff, but I'm going to be much more careful now and hose down all the muck first...

[Tropicgirl]

I had a friend bitten by a centipede. He said it was the most painful bite he has endured and his entire arm swelled up. And he's been bitten by some nasty things.
I also just get in there with my fingers, prying out bark, but I may rethink my strategy.

[natasha]

yeah, me too... i am very very cautious now when prying any of the pots~ millipedes are ok, but god, centipedes? but still, i am addicted and will keep my hobby!

[Sammy]

Wow, clever cats. I wish my pets could re-pot plants!!! :P