Milipedes in media
 

Do they just help break down the bark? Or do they nibble on orchid roots?

ew, had this problem when i brought my orchids back in for the winter. I submerged the whole pot in water and the milipedes floated away.....

They probably eat something associated with organic decomposition, so their presence is a good indicator that it's time to repot!

Do they damage roots directly? I don't know, and I don't know if this parallel is valid, but consider fungus gnat larvae - they eat fungus growing on decomposing organic matter - until the population outstrips the fungal growth, then they do go after roots.

You may try this. Worked like a charm on millipedes

http://www.orchidboard.com/eliminate...pests-with-co2

wow very cool pest control method there marty. might hav e to try that on a mealibug infested plant of mine....

I'm with Ray on this one - definitely time to change the media.

Millipedes are my WORST nightmare, and I have to say I've only ever seen them in a plant when it's been upon arrival from a vendor, and the mix has been mush. Thank heavens!

Thanks for the replies. I had this problem awhile back and was just curious as to what kind of damage if any they do to the plant.

Out of curioisity, what kind of orchid is in the media, and what type of media?

I don't know if milipedes are good or bad, so I personally never took the chance (or time). ;)

-Pat

The milipedes were in my cym's media, which was a bark mix. The plant grew fine so I didn't repot it immediately, and when I did I switched to s/h.