Ew! Millipedes!

[Rowangreen]

Few weeks ago I bought some plants from the RHS Orchid show. One of them turned out to have a nice little nest of millipedes. I soaked the plant in water with some dish washing liquid in it (Ecover, since I thought that would probably be safe!). After a couple of hours quite a few of the milis had jumped ship and were sluggish if not drowned, and off down the drain they went... No sign since, plant since repotted, all seems well.

Then today I spotted some movement in a plant I've had since before Christmas. Looking closer: well I could only see part of it's body as it trundled through the roots, but there was a HUGE millipede.

What's really making me shudder is there's no way it was in the tiny pot with the nest. I suppose it could have come from another new plant if they are happy to walk a foot or two between plants and scramble up and down plastic... but I'm thinking the chances are that it's been in that plant the whole time I've had it.

I'm not sure the plant is going to be deep enough in a bucket... may need to use a bath. Need to brace myself first though....

[NatalieS]

Do you mean centipedes rather than millipedes? Centipedes being the flat, wriggly, legs sticking out the side,.... errrrggghhhh!!! *shudders*. Millipedes being the fat, roundy, ones that curl up when you touch them. We call those shongololos, or shongies, in SA and I think those are cute!

[nenella]

Yes I hate centipedes too as can really hurt you but millipedes are harmless and as Natalie says they are cute!

[NatalieS]

They're like... armoured earthworms with legs. Battle worms!!

[Rowangreen]

Was a millipede... I can sort of see the cute argument (love your description Natalie!), but they still creep me out. I think it maybe from getting a nasty surprise with one when I was a kid: put my hand on something that moved, and it turned out to be a giant one.

Or maybe it's because they have some slight simularities with wood lice, which I used to have a massive phobia about as I had a really traumatic experience with them as a toddler! Climbed up a rotten treestump, bit of bark came away to reveal thousands underneath, then I found I couldn't climb back down. I was stuck there screaming until an adult came and got me... I'm much better about them now (especially the pill type that roll up, they're OK when rolled!), but still somewhat mixed feelings!

Centipedes are worse than millipedes!

Anyway, it's done. Bath still full of water, bark and a millipede that I think is properly dead now. Plant repotted: it needed doing, I was just holding out until the new pulbs started rooting, but it looked like there was some new root growth anyway.

Anyone know if it's normal for a Brassidium to have orange root tips? Seriously bright orange... Plant has been very healthy looking and vigourous since I got it, but there was the dreaded moss ball in the middle!

[Rowangreen]

Just wanted to add, when I say giant, I mean probably thumb sized round, and they are poisonous. One's in my plant were a little bit smaller...

Anyway, just come back after being out doing some work for several hours... to find 3 (yes 3) live millipedes trundling round in the bottom of my bath! Apparently my method makes them jump ship but might not kill them.... They have now headed off down the drain, but I think they have a chance. LOL

[lepetitmartien]

Well, I think there's a big mistake regarding orchids here…

You think millipedes are cute, cool arthopods?
And that centipedes are horrible nasty buggers?

You are right, but terribly wrong. And I mean wrong!

Almost all millipedes are vegans. If they like to be amongst your orchids, it means something there is edible… see what I mean?

Centipedes are carnivorous. They eat insects and arthropods around, just like spiders they are allies. I know they can bite, but most of the time, you won't have to bother, save if you're crushing them but mistake. Watch where you put your big fingers, and if you stumble on one, it'll go, fast, as they are fleeing light, and will.

Note that I don't think to have those inside is a good thing, but if you do, it means that it's wet in there and that they find something to eat (and no, it's not you, as you're identified as "nasty big crusher to flee triple fast").

[MAli]

If you find anymore put them in a jar and send them to me I go out of my way to try to keep mine alive and I actually culture a few of my own detritivores. My friends are always asking for my extras as they too have now learned the benefits of all these amazing creepy crawlies. They are all harmless and won't survive long in normal household conditions. If it's not harming my plants I want it.

Snails, slugs, mealy bugs, scale etc. those are a different story altogether

[Rowangreen]

What are the benifits Mali?

What I seem to remember hearing is that they are more into eating bark that's breaking down? So they are more a sign that your plant needs re-potting than an actual threat to the plant?

[MAli]

I don't have much experience growing potted plants but I can tell you about the benefits inside my tanks where I grow my plants mounted. I use mainly springtails and isopods as my free janitorial service in my tanks. They consume any rotting/decaying plant matter and mold which is pretty common in newly set up enclosures. They are the main reason my tank smell very clean and refreshing even though it's basically a closed loop system. A few worms also help aerate your media and turn it into a valuable source of nutrients for your plants.

If there is enough interest here I can start another thread showing how I use and culture them as I do offer some for sale every now and then. I would highly recommend them and they are Harmless to you and your plants.

Hope that helps and sorry if I'm starting to hijack OP.
Cheers