Small black flies can sometimes be found in potted plants. The effects of these insects’ activity can be noticed very quickly, because when attacked, the plant withers and stops growing.
What to do to deal with them? We explain what earthworms are and how to get rid of them at home.
Earthworms are small, black flies, resembling mosquitoes, which, despite their small size, can cause a lot of damage to our potted plants. Adults are not a problem, but they reproduce quickly and their life cycle lasts about 3-4 weeks.
The legless larvae gnaw at the roots and seedlings, damaging them . They are difficult to see because they are transparent with a black head.
Earthworms are flies. They are black except for the yellow abdomen. They can fly, so they move easily from pot to pot. Most often, they come home with a new plant, so it is always worth transplanting them into new soil after purchasing them. However, if we notice the presence of ground beetles on our home crops, we should fight them quickly.
Earthworms are associated with moist soil. The larvae need moisture and organic matter to develop. By limiting watering and using certain home methods, we can get rid of these annoying insects.
It is worth using traps for adult individuals. They will not eliminate the problem in the soil, but they will limit reproduction. It is important to install them close to the ground. It is worth transplanting the plants to a new substrate, thoroughly shaking the roots from the ground. This will help us get rid of insect eggs.
A cheap, effective and safe method of combating groundworms in potted plants is the use of chamomile. Chamomile infusion has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Just pour 8-10 chamomile bags with ½ liter of boiling water.
After cooling, water the substrate with chamomile infusion 2-3 times a week, for a total of 10-14 days. Getting rid of groundworms usually takes 10-21 days.
Chamomile infusion can be used to save most indoor plants. However, it is also important to prevent the return of ground squirrels. The most important thing is to maintain the proper level of moisture in the substrate.
Plants should be watered only when the soil is 2-3 cm dry. It is also worth covering the top layer of the substrate with quartz sand, in which females do not lay eggs.
It is also very important to transplant purchased plants into new soil when we bring them home. They should be quarantined until we are sure that there are no earthworms in the new plants.
