Wormlike bugs in Brassia potting medium

[BikerDoc5968]

But Ross, they like to go for some fresh air in the summer....so how can I refuse them....they're my chids

[cirillonb]

every time I bemoan lacking an outside option, a thread like this appears and make me happy dealing only with things within there 4 walls.
Nick

[Ross]

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

they like to go for some fresh air in the summer

Open the door to the greenhouse!

Besides that would constrain you on purchases Oops, maybe that's a bad thing

[Judi]

Putting them outside is tricky, and maybe I need to do more than Safersoap my plants before they come in, but I seldom have bug problems. The only other big one I had was several years ago when my amarylis came in with trips --I'm sure you all know what a chore it was to get rid of them . Anyway, I have a screen porch, inside they need artificial lights while outside they can have natural light. I really think that bugs aside they benefit from being outside and I save on utility bills

[Sandy4453]

I'm sure you know already but I just want to put it out there, Judi....make sure the medium you're preparing to repot this in, is new. Don't boil the old stuff. I prepare all my medium by boiling it and then letting it soak for about an hour, drain, let cool.

I too, had never had any problems with bugs until yesterday...well, yesterday is when I found the culprit. Had I not sprayed with alcohol and Neem Oil, I don't believe I would have found it before it was too late. I think it came crawling up for it's last breath and was already dying from the spray when I finally saw it. I wouldn't recommend spraying Neem on Phals, though. I recently used it on my Phals and they suffered, big time from the spray but, you can use it to pour through the medium that you don't change.

Good luck and hope you get every single, little beast outta there!

[Judi]

I repotted the orchid in a new pot with boiled new medium--the bad news is that the old potting medium was loaded with these things--at least 50 of them . The good news is that I saw no damage to the roots or the orchid and when I repotted its neighbors I didn't find any of these critters in any of the other pots. It almost seemed like they lived on the bark which was so chewed up it was almost like powder--eventhough it hasn't been that long since I repotted this orchid. Thanks to everyone for your advise!

[Judi]

Interestingly, I just came across a picture of the same critter I had in my Brassia potting mix! I'm pretty sure it's a Symphylan/Garden Centepede . They come in several colors--including white--they live in the soil and damage seeds, seedlings, and roots. I have no idea how they got in my Brassia because when I put my plants outside in my screenporch they are all at least 2 feet above the ground and on concrete slab floor. Anyway for informational purposes I am attaching a pdf file with some info on the critters.