| Worms and other critters living in potting soil are generally harmless to people and plants, but they are creepy! They don't belong inside, which is why it is best to use only sterile potting mixes for indoor plants. Here is what I usually recommend. Plunge the pot up to its rim (or as far up as possible) in a tub or sink filled with plain water. Leave it for about 30 minutes. This will cause the worms to abandon the soil in search of air. You can then sweep them off the surface and discard them. You might want to get a hardy soul to help you with this if you are phobic about wiggly things! If you cannot manage this, then you will have to resort to a systemic pesticide that can be used as a soil drench. Merit or Marathon are good choices if you can find either of them. Otherwise ask your garden supplier to recommend a systemic soil drench. |
