Superthrive soak

How did the earthworms get into the container? That's not good. :-( Perhaps you should place a screen over the drainage holes to prevent access of worms and slugs?

I hope you didn't soak the plant for very long.

So why are earth worms thriving in the container not good. I thought they made all kinds of earth loosening channels and left behind nitrogen rich manure. All my potted plants from citrus and figs to annuals are full of earth worms.

Steve

Hey guys. My pots will also get the occasional worms also. I too thought that having a worm or two in my pots was beneficial.

Hi Rhizo! Happy to see you here, and anxious yo herr your reply to this....not that I plan to go on a worm expedition with all my potted citrus lol! I was under the impression that worms(earth worms, not grubs, or any other pest) were good for potted plants/trees because they help by airating the soil, and they also provide small amounts of worm poop which is VERY GOOD for the citrus trees, or other plants.

Andrew

Here's the deal on earthworms....they are grrrreeeeaaat in our garden soil, lawns, compost piles, and on the end of a fishing hook! However, within the confines of a container, they reduce the nice, coarse consistency of potting medium to......well......worm poop.

While worm castings are generally rich in nutrients, the consistancy will become mucky and goopy when the worms aren't part of a bigger 'system '.

A halfway decent potting mix will be porous and should not need to be aerified. That's the whole reason for spending the time finding or making a good medium. Worms feed on our nice potting medium, turning it into sludge.

In an outdoor system (garden soil, for example), the environment is constantly changing and evolving...being reborn again constantly. That's why worms can become a productive member of that ecosystem.

Because of the mucky nature of worm poop, as a container becomes more and more poopy, the pores and channels become filled with the stuff, replacing the essential air pores.

If you believe that your containerized plants benefit from worm castings, make tea from a commercial product and water with the liquid.

I hope that this makes sense. Remember, one can never consider container growing and in-ground culture as equal.

rhizo--I agree with you on the soil in pots-I first noticed something wrong with two of my citrus pots when I saw very fine soil that had fallen out of the drainage holes similar to what happens when ants make a nest in the potting soil but I don't have ants in the pots. then I found several little tiny worms? in the drainage saucer and then a couple fine as a hair curled up and dry on the counter!! Ahhh-if I didn't love my citrus I would have thrown the whole pots out!! Although they did look like tiny red worms I wonder if they are actually planarians which I have seen outside on the sidewalk attacking slugs. But the big concern I have is that both these citrus were Never outside the greenhouse. I bought them from 4 winds and potted them in sterile mix. How did they get in the pots and how do I get rid of them?? These are so small I think they must be hatchlings and prolific. I appreciate any help from anyone.

Weather worms are good of bad for pots, i dont know, but one thing i do know is that the plants were suffering before the worms came a out and now they are thriving. I transplanted the 2 with worms over the weekend and i didnt notice and slimy poop or muck or anything mentioned in before posts. I know for a fact that worms wont over reproduce, . So weather worms are good or bad, thats for you to decide. Im keeping my worms in my pots and they do have to lluxury to come and go as they please.