How did it all happen???

18 years ago

I originally put the potted elephant ear outdoors. I moved it indoors before winter. It has been growing ok until recently. About two weeks ago, I noticed the plant was weakening gradually. However, I normally do not pay attention closely to the plants when watering, unless something noticeable. The two leaves were dying so quickly. Yesterday when I watered, I found many tiny black insects on the good leaves especially underneath them. See below:

I know it's hard to see them, but I was spraying SAFE gardening soap onto the leaves. I also found many insects like leeches at the bottom of the pot where the water collected. Usually water does not collect at the bottom, but it has been recently. I was like, "Oh My!!!!!" when I saw those crawling thingy.

How did it all happen? I have never had anything like it before. Is it because the potted plant is coming from outdoors? What can I do to the plant besides spraying SAFE? Thanks

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Comments (5)

jean001
18 years ago
Your "insects like leeches" look more like millipedes. If so, not a problem although I must admit you may be a bit unnerved to have so many of them.

Take the pot outdoors in order to brush off the critters.
chueh
Original Author
18 years ago
You are right!!! Not "may be a bit unnerved to have so many of them," but I was "Oh, Gosh!!! Goose bump all grew on me. Wooo.... Brush them off..... how scary! Why did they come on the pot anyway, especially at the bottom. What do they do over there, just drinking water??
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
18 years ago
when bringing a plant indoors from the yard in fall ... YOU have to make sure the soil/pot is bug free .. or sooner or later something is going to appear ....

you can either repot in fresh sterile soil in hopes of removing such ...

or apply a systemic drench to the pot a few weeks prior to bringing them into the house... i prefer to do it outdoors to reduce use of such in the house ....

prevention is so much easier than cure ....

if it were me.. i would either get rid of the plant and start over ... or i would apply a systemic drench and live with the smell for a few days ...i know others will object ... but one plant.. one application.. isn't going to kill you ... apply according to directions ...

millipedes eat decaying material .. as far as i know ... they are feasting on whatever is in the bottom of the pot ....

ken
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
18 years ago
Ken, if you can smell the fumes of a pesticide you are inhaling the toxins. Inhalation is one of the most common modes of chronic AND acute pesticide exposure. Just so you know.....I CARE about you, man! :-)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
18 years ago
i know you do ....

and i ALWAYS expect the warnings from you ...

but i also fear for the posters sanity .... lol

do you disagree with using the systemic in fall prior to bringing them in the house????

ken