Your garden soil is an entire ecosystem full of non-living and living components that are essential for supporting plant health. Organic plant soil is typically made up of minerals, rocky material like sand, silt, or clay, as well as living, dead, or decomposing plant or animal matter like bacteria and fungi. In addition, you’re likely to find a lot of beneficial insects like earthworms and spiders that help break down organic material, so that it becomes easily absorbable for your plants.
However, if you’ve been gardening recently, you may have also noticed tiny brown worms in plant soil. Come learn about why these worms may be hiding out in your garden soil or houseplant soil, and whether they are harming your plants!
If you’re a houseplant parent, you may have noticed tiny brown worms crawling around in your plant’s soil. I certainly have! At first, I freaked out a bit, wondering what these little bugs could be. Were they harmful to my plants? Was I doing something wrong in caring for my houseplants? After doing some research, I learned these worms are actually quite common in potted plants, and with a few simple steps, they’re easy to identify and control.
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.
While the larvae don’t directly harm plants by feeding on roots, they can spread fungal diseases. Large infestations can also cause damage to root hairs and stunt plant growth.
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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Adult fungus gnats fly in from outdoors through open doors and windows and lay eggs in the moist soil of houseplants.
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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.
With vigilance and persistence, you can eradicate fungus gnat larvae from your houseplant soil and prevent future infestations. The keys are allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings, using sterile potting mix, and trapping 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
- Loosen up the soil so worms can move through it with ease
- Are rich in organic material for worms to consume
- Are favorable for weed development, which offers an extra food source
To support a healthy moisture balance in your garden or houseplant soil, and prevent the chances of brown worms invading your plants, make sure to:
- Avoid overwatering: Be cautious with your watering sessions and visually assess the soil before any irrigation, to ensure you aren’t providing excessive amounts or have water pooling anywhere.
- Provide your plants with mulch: Opt for natural mulches like cedar bark and straw, which can absorb excess water from the soil and suppress weed development.
- Improve soil drainage: To prevent water from becoming stagnant, opt for raised garden beds, planting in pots with drainage holes, or mixing compost into your soil.
Types of Brown Worms in Plant Soil
There are various types of tiny brown worms in plant soil that may be lurking out in your garden or houseplant pots. Brown worms or insects with a worm-like appearance that you’ll likely find when gardening include:
- Centipedes
- Wireworms
- Cutworms
- Fungus gnat larvae
Some worms are harmless and even beneficial for your soil, whereas others are pests that you’ll definitely want to get under control 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 their castings that contain organic nutrients that are readily bio-available. 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. If you have recently changed your plant’s potting mix or it had to bear heavy rainfall, you may find these worms in your plant’s soil. These tiny creates can also be fungus gnats larvae, a common garden pest.
What are the types of worms that can infect humans?
Several types of worms can infect humans: Roundworms (Nematodes): These include pinworms, hookworms, and whipworms, causing various digestive and skin issues. Tapeworms (Cestodes): They can grow quite long in the intestines and may lead to weight loss and nutrient deficiencies. 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.