Strange clear worms?!?!

RubiesFire82

My Chinese Elm tree has strange clear worms on top of the soil?
I don't know where they came from!

They seem to just be on the top of the soil, and then they dig around but don't seem to be hurting the tree. I've had the tree since September, and these worms just showed up two weeks ago. The tree has never been outside, so how did they get there?

Help! What are these clear worms!!

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bonsaial1

Glass worms or vinegar worms. They usually come from sour soil. Not particularly bad just sort of icky! I used to grow them for my aquariums.

Change to fresh soil for spring and check the soil before watering and make sure it needs water rather than watering on a schedule. You may be creating an environment that they like. Change the environment and they will go away.

Cheers, Al

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eeiko321

are they good for the plant?

like how they say worms are good for the garden?

pup

Al said they come from sour soil, sour soil is not good!!!
Does that answer your question. Worms in Bonsai pots are not good, Period.

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eeiko321

ok,
today i got a few free trees that were from a friends back yard...
very bushy area her backyard...

there are these little clear worms, they are so tiny.......

theres also tiny.......as in.... as small as a pencil dot....hopping bugs.... or are they flying....im not sure.

what are they?......

ive sprayed a bit of insecticide in the soil where they were...
i have a sunny clean backyard........i kinda kept the tree away from my collection so it doesnt contaminate ....

any ideas?

these 2 trees i got are little young ones....kinda neglected....
one is a japanese maple and the other is a young trident maple...

i cant clean the soil yet and repot cause its going into dormacy soon as it is the end of summer ...

hmmm
soapy water?

PatArizona

G'day Eeiko...

You said "...there are these little clear worms, they are so tiny...theres also tiny...hopping bugs...or are they flying...im not sure...ive sprayed a bit of insecticide in the soil...".

Kinda sounds like you don't know what you are spraying for?

It's been said at least 4-5 times, on this forum, during the last 4-5 weeks, that you should NEVER use any "cide" of any kind, unless it is INDICATED for your specific pest on the product label.

It's also been said many times, on this forum, that you should NEVER use any "cide" of any kind, unless it is INDICATED for your specific tree/plant on the product label.

By the way, INDICATED is a medical term that means "...to point to the required treatment...".

What does this all mean? 1. Always ID the plant spceies; 2. Always ID the pest; 3. Always read the the label; and, 4. NEVER use a "cide" unless it is INDICATED for both your plant and your pest.

Indiscriminant spraying of "cides" is BAD.

You also said "...hmmm…soapy water?".

Ever heard of CARL'S SOAP SOLUTION?

It too has been suggested many times. It is NOT an insecticide. It is safe to use on many if not most trees. It works for many pests.

Here's a quote from Rockm..."...If there are alot of bugs in your trees, predators will most likely find them. That's why I don't like spraying alot of pesticides unless absolutely necessary. Pesticides in any form will kill indiscriminantly, "good" bugs and "bad"...and, "...Keeping trees healthy and well cared for is usually the best way to control pests...".

Finally, you said "...kept the tree away from my collection so it doesnt contaminate...". That's good...very, very good!

Pat

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eeiko321

hi pats......

what about the insecticide spray that is marked 100% organic.....
hmmm

i notice when i water the soil........those little tiny things..... start to come up to the surface. i dono what they are......but yeah theyre as small as a pencil dot...white in colour and hop.
the clear worms tend to clim to the surface when i water it.

rockm

"what about the insecticide spray that is marked 100% organic....."

I think we had this discussion before. "Organic" does not mean "safe" or "non-toxic." Organic compounds in an insecticide does not mean it is somehow safe to spray indiscriminately. Insecticides are meant to kill, period. Identify the problem (ID the bugs), treat accordingly with a targeted product meant to kill what you're after.