Gnats and creepy crawlies

[Bribri]

One of my first purchases was a cymbidium from a retail store. I did repot it but that was before I joined this board, so repotting the plant entailed of me taking it out of its container and sticking it into a new pot old medium and all. The other day I noticed a few gnats hovering around the plant. I inspected all of my plants but the source was this cymbidium. So I bought some new medium this a.m and have it currently un-potted. I found these little gross wormies. And I noticed how decomposted the old medium is. I removed every little bit of old medium and rinsed/soaked the roots and about to repot. But should I spray the roots and plant down with something? Blah! I don't do well with worms (I'm kinda worried about what kind of orchid mother I will be if these are always around).

[Leafmite]

I'm not too fond of the buggies, either. That is why I am growing very fond of carnivorous plants. I have some plants that must always stay wet and require an organic fertilizer...the perfect breeding ground for fungus gnats. I rarely see them now since I bought that butterwort.
I plant most of my orchids in red lava rock which really has helped quite a bit. Good luck!

[WhiteRabbit]

If the "worms" were tiny, and clearish/silverish, they were probably fungus gnat larvae. Getting rid of the old media should be sufficient.

[RHF]

The media looks like Promix to me, which I use for the one cymbidium I have. It does need periodic replacement but I wouldn't call it decomposed. Roots look healthy, so I agree that just replacing the media should do it.

[Bribri]

Thank you guys. They were clearish and really small. I also ran out and bought a flying venus trap to catch any flies left but I hope I squished every last one. I tried looking for a butterwort but no luck. The cym is now repotted in fresh media. I noticed 2 new bulb formations. I'm hoping that the repotting didn't disturb any growth or the flowers. I tried to be careful with the roots but a couple did snap off. Do these critters lay eggs in the roots or just the medium? And I read that the larvae die when in a dry environment, so should I let the media completely dry out for longer then usual?

[Carpe Diem]

Thanks Bribri, reading about your creepy crawlies has me itching now.
Can't help with the wormies, but I got rid of fungus gnats by setting out a small dish with apple cider vinegar. They are attracted to the vinegar and drown in it. Usually you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but this is a exception to the rule. I put dish soap in the water and gave all the orchids a good drink, to kill the eggs and whatnot in the medium. Haven't seen a fungus gnat since and hope it stays that way.

[Bribri]

Carpe Diem, I was itching too and I'm worried what I'll be dreaming about tonight lol. I'll try out the dish soap my next watering. I hope I never see those again! I did set out some apple cider vinegar too.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Bribri

I also ran out and bought a flying venus trap to catch any flies left but I hope I squished every last one.

Vfts won't help with the gnats -- the gnats are too small and won't set off the trigger hairs to close the trap. Pinguicula (butterworts) and Drosera (sundews) are what you want for gnats. Google should help you find Canadian vendors of such.

[Brooke]

Fungus gnat larvae are white, about the size of a grain of rice. Even after the larvae turns into a gnat, until it is ready to leave the mix, it is white.

The worm thing, which I forget the name, eats the mix and reduces it to a very peat type product which is actually their poop.

The easiest way to remove them is to soak the entire pot, or root ball, in water. They won't want to drown so they crawl up onto the foliage and you can kill them. They don't hurt the roots but will recycle the mix which isn't good for the plant.

Brooke

[WhiteRabbit]

Cyms shouldn't be allowed to dry out completely.