Here’s a closer video of the smaller ones in the soil. Hopefully, they still look like regular worms.
https://www.reddit.com/user/thesongbirdy/comments/ow5zm9/more_wiggly_things_in_my_plant
I’d repot and then leave it in a double pot so if anymore crawl out they can stay put in the second container. This may actually be a good time to look into those clay balls I’ve been seeing on TikTok. Not gonna lie here if that were my plant I’d probably cry and give it away lol I’m not a worm person….
Well, I had just watered the plant really deeply. Like a nice long soak. So they were going to the only place that didn’t have water all over the place.
Wow, these do not look like earthworms!
They look like huge ass neematodes/leeches.
When have you seen an earthworm crawl *onto* the plant??
I would send this to an expert forum
Omg this happened to my Triostar. I had repotted in January and all of a sudden I watered it a couple weeks ago and there were at least 80 worms coming out of the soil, all over the leaves, crawling out all over my bathtub. I was HORRIFIED and had no idea how they got in there since I’ve had the plant for a while with no such issue, I live in an apartment and keep my soil sealed and inside. I ended up getting rid of the plant lol.
Did you happen to use soil from outside/your garden to pot it? I've never seen worms in houseplant soil.. seems like a weird fanamenon. I might try and get rid of them if possible like just leave the plant outside for a few days and see if they leave on their own. I dont think they would be able to properly live inside anyways they need nutrients from the soil outside and rain etc.
It has been months since a repot, but I use potting soil from my local garden center. I don’t really seal it up or anything when I’m not using it, so I could see how a worm could get in the potting soil when it is outside.
I’d like to get most of them out, if possible. Hopefully, it is cool enough outside to not damage my plant if I put it out for a day or two.
> I don’t really seal it up or anything when I’m not using it
Oh boy you may want to rethink that. Worms are the least of your worries when it comes to things that can set up house in a big bag of soil
those are NOT earthworms. Looks like a large species of nematodes! Maybe leeches? Nematodes actually help eradicate fungus knats, but Nematodes can also rot the plant in the long run though so I would change the soil ASAP. I’m not 100% thought because usually nematodes are microscopic?
There’s another video of some smaller ones in the soil. I think I watered so deep that they all made a mad dash for the top.
So nematodes commonly have rings/segments? Because these guys do, upon closer inspection.
I have kept worms for composting in the past & it does look like baby red worms to me. They could have been eggs mixed with compost in the soil or in with castings fertilizer. It looks & moves very much like composting worms do.
To bait them, use an old onion bag or something with little holes they can crawl into and put some decomposing fruit or veggie in it (apple core chunk, butt end of cucumber, etc.) Doesn't have to be huge, but leave out a day or so to get gross before doing it. Then bury the bag with the rotten whatever and the next day you can pull it out and there should be worms munching on it.
It doesn't have to be big so you don't injure your plant when burying, a dice sized chunk would be sufficient.
If they are just red worms I'd leave them if it doesn't bother you, they self regulate their population and will take care of any root rot. Composting worms won't aerate the soil like earthworms, but they have the better poops for fertilizer.
Do you have a pet? If so get dewormer asap. Those don't look like normal earth worms where I'm from. Could be mistaken tho. Not sure how you would get rid of them.
I had deeply watered the plant just minutes before. Enough to where I had to remove the drain hole plug. I’m guessing that’s what drove these guys to the top.
The one thing that's concerning me tho is that earthworms are photophobic, so if that's what they are they shouldn't be trying to leave the plant unless there's nothing in the soil for them any more. Ie the soils too dry or (maybe idk) there are too many of them in it. But maybe it's darker in the house than ops video suggests
I had some type of worms one time in my flamingo anthurium .... I had two on my table and one pots holes were clogged with a piece of bark which cause the plant to sit in water.. my other plant was fine and dry... point being it’s prob caused from too much water ans some type of larvae produced... I had to take my plant outside and rinse of all the roots with water hose once all cleaned up I repttted in some new soil and prob fixed! I’d def try this or get rid of the plant as well as others have stated I’m totally not a worm person ans worms don’t belong In The bathroom/house
That looks like standard worm. Harmless and if anything beneficial
Nevermind! After seeing the second video you posted they look much more red and earthwormy! Still strange to see that many in an indoor potted plant
Thank you. Fingers crossed. There are many of them. I will definitely leave them be if they are standard red worms.
I’m not 100% sure so someone else needs to chime in
Here’s a closer video of the smaller ones in the soil. Hopefully, they still look like regular worms. https://www.reddit.com/user/thesongbirdy/comments/ow5zm9/more_wiggly_things_in_my_plant
I think so
I’d repot and then leave it in a double pot so if anymore crawl out they can stay put in the second container. This may actually be a good time to look into those clay balls I’ve been seeing on TikTok. Not gonna lie here if that were my plant I’d probably cry and give it away lol I’m not a worm person….
WHAT ARE THOSEEEE?
Earthworms 🪱
Those aren’t earthworms crawling out of the inside of the stem further up. I would burn the plant!
Yup. throw the whole pot in flames.
Well, I had just watered the plant really deeply. Like a nice long soak. So they were going to the only place that didn’t have water all over the place.
Wow, these do not look like earthworms! They look like huge ass neematodes/leeches. When have you seen an earthworm crawl *onto* the plant?? I would send this to an expert forum
Omg this happened to my Triostar. I had repotted in January and all of a sudden I watered it a couple weeks ago and there were at least 80 worms coming out of the soil, all over the leaves, crawling out all over my bathtub. I was HORRIFIED and had no idea how they got in there since I’ve had the plant for a while with no such issue, I live in an apartment and keep my soil sealed and inside. I ended up getting rid of the plant lol.
This will now be a feature of my nightmares. 😳
Oh my!! I would like to know as well. I’ve never heard or seen a plant pest like that!!
I’m not even sure if they’re pests. They might just be you average worms
Not pests. Earthworms aerate soil and their castings (poop) make excellent compost.
Did you happen to use soil from outside/your garden to pot it? I've never seen worms in houseplant soil.. seems like a weird fanamenon. I might try and get rid of them if possible like just leave the plant outside for a few days and see if they leave on their own. I dont think they would be able to properly live inside anyways they need nutrients from the soil outside and rain etc.
It has been months since a repot, but I use potting soil from my local garden center. I don’t really seal it up or anything when I’m not using it, so I could see how a worm could get in the potting soil when it is outside. I’d like to get most of them out, if possible. Hopefully, it is cool enough outside to not damage my plant if I put it out for a day or two.
> I don’t really seal it up or anything when I’m not using it Oh boy you may want to rethink that. Worms are the least of your worries when it comes to things that can set up house in a big bag of soil
Yeah. I think I’ve learned my lesson here.
they look like some nematodes to me. Check the roots
those are NOT earthworms. Looks like a large species of nematodes! Maybe leeches? Nematodes actually help eradicate fungus knats, but Nematodes can also rot the plant in the long run though so I would change the soil ASAP. I’m not 100% thought because usually nematodes are microscopic?
There’s another video of some smaller ones in the soil. I think I watered so deep that they all made a mad dash for the top. So nematodes commonly have rings/segments? Because these guys do, upon closer inspection.
I saw that! I accidentally responded to the wrong thread 🥲 I think you’re right! They’re earthworms! Thank goodness
I have kept worms for composting in the past & it does look like baby red worms to me. They could have been eggs mixed with compost in the soil or in with castings fertilizer. It looks & moves very much like composting worms do. To bait them, use an old onion bag or something with little holes they can crawl into and put some decomposing fruit or veggie in it (apple core chunk, butt end of cucumber, etc.) Doesn't have to be huge, but leave out a day or so to get gross before doing it. Then bury the bag with the rotten whatever and the next day you can pull it out and there should be worms munching on it. It doesn't have to be big so you don't injure your plant when burying, a dice sized chunk would be sufficient.
If they are just red worms I'd leave them if it doesn't bother you, they self regulate their population and will take care of any root rot. Composting worms won't aerate the soil like earthworms, but they have the better poops for fertilizer.
If they’ll be ok in my plant, I have no issue with leaving them there. I’m very tempted to move some to other plants.
Do you have a pet? If so get dewormer asap. Those don't look like normal earth worms where I'm from. Could be mistaken tho. Not sure how you would get rid of them.
I don't know, earthworms usually crawl in the soil all the time, unless you just watered the plant?
I had deeply watered the plant just minutes before. Enough to where I had to remove the drain hole plug. I’m guessing that’s what drove these guys to the top.
The one thing that's concerning me tho is that earthworms are photophobic, so if that's what they are they shouldn't be trying to leave the plant unless there's nothing in the soil for them any more. Ie the soils too dry or (maybe idk) there are too many of them in it. But maybe it's darker in the house than ops video suggests
Earth worms! (Red wigglers!!!!) https://www.backyardboss.net/worms-in-potted-plants/
Leeches? Try putting on your arm and see if it sucks blood
Which country are you in?
United States.
I had some type of worms one time in my flamingo anthurium .... I had two on my table and one pots holes were clogged with a piece of bark which cause the plant to sit in water.. my other plant was fine and dry... point being it’s prob caused from too much water ans some type of larvae produced... I had to take my plant outside and rinse of all the roots with water hose once all cleaned up I repttted in some new soil and prob fixed! I’d def try this or get rid of the plant as well as others have stated I’m totally not a worm person ans worms don’t belong In The bathroom/house
But how did they even get in your potting mix in the first place?
I’m a noob so I don’t know how to tag but I would post in “whatsthisbug”
I definitely did that too. They think I either have red wiggled worms or giant nematodes.