Why copper? Could slugs get through Plastic? Filix

Molluscs blood contains haemocyanin, based on copper. Earthworms do not, so screen material won't affect them (except for the fact that it forms a physical barrier); whereas earthworm's blood (human's too) is based on iron, haemoglobin. The reaction of copper with dissimilar metals in soils creates electrolysis which repels the slugs before they even contact the screen. It's in the blood. ;o)

Al

So you are growing in containers on a balcony and you have earthworms of large size in your containers????

That's really neat. (I like worms ;-)

I think you are likely correct that the manure had eggs in it and that's how the worms arrived, but it is just incredible to me that they not only survived in the containers, but apparently thrived. Greece must have different worms than the US as any earthworm would just die in the heat in containers here.

May I ask what ingredients are in the potting mix you are using? If you are using soil or decayed organic matter (in the US we call this compost, but I understand in much of Europe compost is a more generic term that means 'potting mix') then it's possible the worm eggs were in this as well.

Personally I wouldn't worry about the worms if your plants are doing well, but if you wish to be rid of them you pretty much need to repot and spray off the plant roots and container as worm eggs are small and hide well.

The good news is earthworms do not eat any living plant tissue, they only want decaying organic matter loaded with bacteria. Worms are essentially bacteria eaters.

You have no idea how huge they were. I'm sure they can't believe their luck now that they're down in the garden. One particular's length was more or less equal to the diameter of the small pot it was in and was definitely having a bad time in there. This explains why some of my easy-going, non demanding, local plants had a really bad year. Lost 3 hot pepper plants and some others are looking miserable as opposed to last year.

The soil mixture was a simple flowering plants' soil mix, nothing special, but I'm fairly certain the manure mix brought them in.

Problem is, some containers are too large + have climbing plants intertwined on a trellis or hanging out of the gaps on the balcony rail, and repotting is not possible there.

That's why I'm looking for a mixture/potion/substance that is sprayed on the soil and takes them out. I read somewhere that a drop of bio-degradable soap in 2 lt of water sprayed around the topsoil forces them to migrate but no one says how often and how much should I use this...

Your worms sound interesting. My suggested treatment (and I am fairly certain it will work) is based on a method we use here in our southern states to inspect lawns for the destructive mole cricket which brings worms to the surface quickly. Hopefully you have available to you a lemon dishwashing detergent liquid soap. It should be the type which does not have degreasers or antbacterial products in it. Read the label carefully. Fill a gallon (4 lts) jug with water and add three tablespoons of the detergent. Pour into pots liberally. In a few minutes the worms should come to the surface or out through drainage holes, gasping for air. Remove them. Then give the pots a good watering. If this type of detergent is not available then try any gentle liquid soap using the same measurements. Worms lay zillions of eggs so this will be an ongoing problem.

I tried the dishwashing soap method and yes they are indeed crawling out of the soil and all over the balcony. I tested it on 4 pots and after 5 minutes tops they were all out (some millipedes as well). Now I hope all that soap won't kill the plants so i'm washing off the top lather coat... Will keep u updated!

Gosh you learn something new every day! I never realized worms in planters were bad. I've even been known to put them there on purpose! I'll watch for that next time!

Another way to drive worms away from an area is to whirl a garlic clove in the blender with a pint of water and then pour it on the soil. It activates a mass exodus of worms! (Something I learned by accident when trying to get rid of aphids on my rosebushes.)

Trust you will try Anney's accidental garlic discovery as posted above. Try it and let us know if it works. We all want to know.

nandina

:-)

I discovered later that vermicomposting systems sometimes advise against putting "citrus peel, onions, garlic or chili" in the worm compost pile because worms don't like them. I didn't dream that worms could boil up to the surface like that and move so fast!

off topic, but those things are fine in worm bins/piles. There may be validity to worms not liking them fresh, but given a choice worms just avoid things until they begin to rot.

I can confirm from my own worm bin that they do in fact eat onions and garlic, but not until it is smashed up and has a couple days to start rotting.

Justaguy

Yes, I read that, too, that it's the fresh strong "burning" veggies and citrus peel that earthworms will avoid, but once these foodstuffs have broken down some, they'll eat them, too.

Well, switching to non-organic fertilizers + the devastating heatwave we had here (108-116F for 6 days) has driven the remaining earthworms out of the pots and I have seen no traces while repotting 5 large containers ^_^

I use to make a slurry from yellow mustard and water to "chase" worms out of the ground for fishing. Never used it in potted plants but I don't see why it wouldn't work. It never hurt any of the plants we had in the ground.

JMTC,
Dan

Lekholoane from Lesotho Southern Africa

thanks for this informative topic. Information never goes stale as this issue was discussed 16 years ago but the facts are still relevant today. Your non-chemical treatment methods are humane and I found that very comforting than to use chemicals. My personal experience is earthworms are good in gardens but wreak havoc in pots. The growing medium tries out to a very hard cake which cements and impedes the plant roots becomes hydrophobic, contributing to high cost and wasted water.