You may have seen little brown worms moving around in your plant’s soil if you have houseplants. Yes, I have! At first, I was a little scared because I didn’t know what those little bugs were. Is it bad for my plants to have them? Am I not taking good care of my houseplants? I did some research and found that these worms are common in potted plants and can be easily found and removed with a few easy steps.
What Are the Tiny Brown Worms?
The tiny brown worms frequently found wriggling through houseplant soil are most likely fungus gnat larvae. Adult fungus gnats are small mosquito-like flying insects about 1/8 inch long that look like tiny flies. The larvae are thin, legless cream-colored worms about 1/4 inch long that feed on organic matter and fungi in moist soil.
They don’t hurt plants directly because they eat roots, but they can spread fungal diseases. Large infestations can also hurt root hairs and stop plants from growing.
How Do Fungus Gnats Get Into Houseplants?
There are a few ways these annoying bugs can sneak their way into your indoor potted plants
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They’re already present in the potting soil or plant roots when brought home from the nursery.
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Fungus gnat adults come inside through open windows and doors and lay their eggs in the wet soil of fresh plants.
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They arrive on infected plant cuttings or new houseplants added to your collection.
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Larvae crawl out of pot drain holes in search of new moist soil and plants to infest.
Fungus gnat populations multiply rapidly in damp, organic-rich soil where they thrive.
Signs of Fungus Gnat Larvae in Houseplants
Watch for these common signs that fungus gnat larvae have invaded your houseplant’s soil:
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Tiny brown worms swimming in the top layer of wet soil or dangling from drain holes.
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Clouds of tiny flying insects hovering over the soil, especially after watering. These are the adult fungus gnats.
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Silvery translucent trails on the soil surface from larvae movement.
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Damaged or dropped leaves with ragged holes chewed by larvae.
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Houseplant decline, stunted growth, or droopy yellowing leaves from excessive larvae feeding on roots.
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Excessive stringy fungus overtaking the soil, which larvae spread.
How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnat Larvae in Potting Soil
If you spot fungus gnat larvae wriggling through your houseplant’s soil, here are some effective ways to get rid of them:
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Let the soil dry out completely between waterings to deter adults from laying eggs.
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Remove and replace the top few inches of soil, which is where eggs and larvae live.
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Repot plants in fresh, sterile potting mix to eliminate larvae and eggs.
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Use hydrogen peroxide or mosquito dunks to kill larvae in the soil. Carefully follow label instructions.
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Sticky traps catch adult fungus gnats before they can reproduce. Trap or swat adults flying near plants.
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Sprinkle a thin layer of sand or perlite over the soil to dry out the surface and discourage adults from laying eggs.
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Water plants from the bottom to avoid wetting the top layer of soil where larvae live.
You can get rid of fungus gnat larvae from the soil of your houseplants and stop them from coming back if you are careful and persistent. It’s important to use sterile potting mix, let the soil dry out completely between waterings, and catch adults before they can lay more eggs.
How to Prevent Fungus Gnat Problems
Prevention is the best way to avoid fungus gnat issues altogether. Here are some tips to keep these pests from invading your houseplants:
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Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering encourages gnats.
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Remove plant debris and weeds where adults hide. Keep plants and surfaces clean.
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Use sterile potting mixes and clean containers. Don’t reuse old soil.
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Inspect new plants closely and isolate them until you’re sure they aren’t harboring gnats.
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Apply an inch of sand, gravel, or pebbles over the soil to deter adults from laying eggs.
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Use yellow sticky traps early to catch adults before they can reproduce.
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Let the soil dry out occasionally to starve larvae. Allow pots to get lighter before watering again.
With proper cultural practices, you can avoid ever having to deal with these annoying bugs taking over your houseplant soil. Prevention truly is the best cure!
The Takeaway
Tiny brown worms living in houseplant soil are most likely fungus gnat larvae. Though they don’t directly harm plants, they can spread disease and damage roots. With vigilance and a dry, sterile soil environment, these common pests are easy to control and prevent. Check plants closely, let soil dry out between waterings, and use traps early to catch adults before they reproduce. With a few simple measures, you can keep those wiggly worms from invading your indoor garden!
Why Are There Tiny Brown Worms in Plant Soil?
Worms are typically found in organic plant soil that is overly moist or damp. They are also likely to be found if you’ve got mold in plant soil. This is because wet and moldy conditions:
- Offer hydration
- Make the soil less dense so that worms can easily move through it.
- Are rich in organic material for worms to consume
- Are good for weed growth, which gives them an extra food source
To keep the soil in your garden or houseplants at a healthy level of moisture and keep brown worms from getting into your plants, make sure to:
- Avoid overwatering: Be careful when you water, and look at the soil before you water to make sure you aren’t giving it too much or letting water pool in any places.
- Put mulch around your plants. Choose natural mulches like cedar bark and straw, which can soak up extra water in the soil and stop weeds from growing.
- Better soil drainage: To keep water from pooling, choose raised garden beds, plant in pots with drainage holes, or add compost to your soil.
Types of Brown Worms in Plant Soil
If you have plants in your garden or houseplant pots, you may find different kinds of tiny brown worms in the soil. Brown worms or insects with a worm-like appearance that you’ll likely find when gardening include:
- Centipedes
- Wireworms
- Cutworms
- Fungus gnat larvae
There are worms that are harmful and even good for your soil, and then there are worms that you need to get rid of right away to keep your plants healthy.
| Healthy and Harmful Worms in Organic Garden Soil | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Worm | Appearance | Healthy or Harmful | Reason |
| Centipedes | Short, striped body that appears grey or brown with 15 to 177 pairs of legs, technically not worm species | Healthy | Centipedes feed on living or dead organic matter and help control the population of healthy microbes in the soil |
| Wireworms | Brown, thick body with white stripes and a dark brown head, larvae of the click beetle | Harmful | Wireworms are often found deep in soil, as they like to feast on roots or root vegetables |
| Cutworms | Moth larvae that are typically brown in color with a white stripe on their backs, tend to curl up into a letter “C” shape | Harmful | Cutworms like to chew on plant stems, roots, and foliage |
| Fungus gnat larvae | Very thin, light brown or yellow body without legs | Harmful | Fungus gnat larvae eat everything from fungi to roots and stems, and even mold in plant soil |
To assess your organic plant soil for harmful worms, observe the soil surface before watering, and scan the first few inches of soil when tilling, transplanting, or harvesting veggies. For potted plants, watch for any of these pests flowing through the drainage tray during your next watering session!
Tiny bugs in houseplant soil
FAQ
What are the tiny brown worms in my soil?
Types of Brown Worms in Plant Soil Brown worms or insects with a worm-like appearance that you’ll likely find when gardening include: Centipedes. Wireworms. Cutworms.
Is it normal to have worms in indoor plant soil?
They literally eat their way through the soil, leaving behind their waste that is full of bio-available organic nutrients. They won’t eat the plants you put in that soil. Worms living in your potting soil are an indication that the soil (mostly compost) is healthy and will support your plantings.
How do I get rid of little brown worms in my house?
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greenpestservicesfl.comhttps://greenpestservicesfl.comHow to get rid of plaster bagworms – Green Pest Services FloridaBy vacuuming, whether, with a household vacuum or a shop-vac, both the bagworm itself and the material it eats are effectively removed from the premises.
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Are centipedes in the soil good or bad?
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Pest Control:Centipedes prey on various garden pests like slugs, snails, aphids, and even larger beetles, helping to keep plant populations healthy.
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Soil Health:They contribute to soil health by consuming decaying organic matter and aerating the soil as they burrow.
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Not Harmful to Plants:While they may consume some plant matter, it’s not their primary food source, and they generally don’t cause significant damage to plants.
What are tiny little worms in the soil?
What Are These Tiny Little Worms? Tiny little worms in the soil are usually white worms known as Entrachyadids. That being said, you might find these worms in your plant’s soil if you just changed the potting mix or it got a lot of rain. These tiny creates can also be fungus gnats larvae, a common garden pest.
What are the types of worms that can infect humans?
Several kinds of worms can infect people: roundworms (Nematodes), which include pinworms, hookworms, and whipworms and cause a range of skin and digestive problems Tapeworms (Cestodes): These worms can get very long in the intestines and can make you lose weight and not get enough nutrients. Flukes (Trematodes): These flatworms can affect the liver, lungs, or intestines, causing various symptoms. Threadworms (Enterobius vermicularis): These are small, thread-like worms that cause itching around the anus. Proper hygiene, sanitation, and medical treatment can help manage and prevent these infections.
What happens if you spot worms in your houseplant?
So, if you spot worms in your houseplant, you should remove them immediately. If left to thrive, they can cause damage to your plants and even kill them. Some of the popular worms you will find on houseplants include red wigglers, earthworms, grub worms, cutworms, and white worms. Some feed on foliage, while others feed on roots.
How to prevent worms in potted plants?
Always allow the soil to dry between watering. An extremely wet soil promotes the breeding of worms. On top of that, keep the potted plant in a well-ventilated area in your home. Also, ensure that your plant receives sunshine. These conditions will discourage the breeding of worms in your potted plants.
Are there red worms in potting soil?
Red Wigglers Red wigglers are most likely what you’re seeing if you find little red worms in plants. The average population of this worm, which is one and a half inches long and quite delicate, is roughly 100 per square foot of potting soil.
Are there worms in potted plants?
Types of worms in potted plants can be worrying, especially if you find yourself to be one of those people who are exceedingly fond of their homegrown plants. So naturally, as soon as you realize what’s happening, you start panicking about the plants that were your comfort and calm.