Hi Karen B,
if I understood well, personally when I trasplant I never take off the old soil without reason (worms-magots-insect eggs etc.)
I take off the plant with the root ball (without broke it), I take off only the pumice or the perlite from the bottom (for drainage use) and filling first the botttom of the new pot with new pumice or perlite for drainage, up of that new soil mix, I put the plant and I fill the free space around the root ball with new soi mix.
I prefer that method because I don't want to harm the very thin feeding roots.
Of course every 4-5 years I throw out the old soil, perlite does n't work after 4-5 years( loses the status of drainage)
John

Hi John,
thanks..I can see now I blew it..should have been thinking and added new soil. Did on all the others. Maybe I can let those 4 dry and try and take it apart and put in new soil on the bottom.. darn not sure . Thanks

Karen B

Hi John,
question, curious.. you mentioned you have maggots in your upper soil? You sure its maggots? ick.. ha Don't they come if only there is decaying matter? I would think there would not be that problem in the upper soil or ?

Karen B

Karen no I did n't have, but once I buyed a plant and in the soil I found magots,so I change all the soil, every time bringing a new plant in my veranda I check the soil and I spray for insects (I put it in a quarantine for abt 15 days and far away from the others plants).
John