Yes, I'd be concerned about the potting medium as well. Looks extremely dense and finely sized, which will typically lead to compaction, loss of porosity (air space) and poor drainage. And these kinds of conditions make for a hospitable habitat for various soil organisms you may prefer to keep out of a container plant.

@ken_adrian just some all purpose compost...I'm no expert on this, is that bad? Just looking for some help on what these are and how I can get rid of them! Thanks

@gardengal48 what would you recommend? I'm new to owning plants so I don't know much about this! Thank you

Ooh, that's some scary looking potting medium. It's gotta go.

I'd invest in a good, porous, soil-less potting mix and dump this stuff in the outdoor garden.

Can't really help with the wormy things.....It's something of a moot point, in my opinion.

Those are probably the larva of some insect. They could be bad guys, good guys, or of no concern. It is difficult, given the size of the photos to know. The potting mix is too wet and if just compost is not what that plant needs. I'd get a good quality potting mix (it need not cost $15.00 per cubic foot) and replace what is there.

Those larva were there as eggs when you bought that product and they hatched when the soil warmed enough, that happens.

kimmq is kimmsr

@rhizo_1 thanks, I didn't realise that dirt was so important haha

I'll pop to the shops later on and see what I can find. Probs best if I just start again to get rid of these wee buggars.

@kimmq/kimmsr thanks I'll do some research and see what I can find here to repot them! I didn't know that could happen but it does make sense. They are very tiny just now but I'd rather they not get any bigger inside my house!

Proper soil for a container plant is probably the number one growing requirement and the one most often overlooked/ignored/bypassed. Change your potting medium as Rhizo suggests to a fast draining, textural, barky mix ASAP. Your plants will thank you and there will be no recurrence of strange, worm-like creatures in the mix.

the MEDIA you use in a pot ... and i like to use that word .. to separate it from dirt or soil .... or compost in your case ..

anyway .. the MEDIA is a water management system ... and specific to the plant.. or a group of plants ...

some like to be sodden all the time ... so you use a media with lots of peat ... to hold lots of water ...

others.. like trees.. like a sip of water.. then full drainage... and near drying ... before the next sip ... in that case.. you use no more than 50% peat type media.. and add big chunks of stuff like bark ... to aid in water moving right out the bottom of the pot ...

and then of course.. there are a myriad of other types and plants ... and media ....

the problem with compost ... is that there is no predictability to how it will handle water ... and also .. how it might compact ... etc ...

and that the long story short ...

also ... just my way of thinking about it.. many of our indoor houseplants.. are understory jungle plants ... in that they dont need a lot of sun .. but also .. if you think about it ... there is little water under the high canopy of such ... there is a rainy season ... but there is a dry season .. plus all the great soil after millinea of composting ... but its not your kind of compost ... [i know others here might argue with what i just said.. but i am just giving you some general ideas.. of what to think about it all .... you can surely ID your plant.. and google up its native haven.. and then think about the media.. it might prefer in a pot...]

ken

I suspect the OP is in the UK where the term compost=potting soil. Is that true, bekihi5?

tj

@gardengal48 thanks for the advice, I will keep this in mind for future as well!

@ken thanks for your detailed response, it's definitely informative and not something I'd considered before! I visited a few garden centres yesterday and picked up some soil that will do for now but will definitely do some research into the specific requirements of my plant.

@tj yes I'm in the UK and I think compost does mean potting soil here as when I was in the garden centres yesterday all of the dirt/potting media/soil is called compost!

I have recently found these worms/caterpillars in my bromeliad. The soil in my plant isn’t dense or overly moist like the commenters pointed out here, so I am really just looking for more information on the critters. If you ever found out more about them, please pass the knowledge along!!

I have a hard time accepting that from those photos everyone can tell that the soil is just The Worst 🤷🏻‍♀️

Generally speaking most housesplants want good drainage, some just also want some extra water retention. But I’m honestly always surprised to find plants thriving in the least habitable appearing mediums. (Pretty sure my dad’s giant christmas cactus is growing within a rock.) I’m not saying soil isn’t important. It’s very important, so it’s always a good idea to look into what kind of soil/medium/mix a plant needs before you plant. I think I’m just miffed at all the people coming to admonish your soil but no one coming to answer your question.

ANYWAYS. They quite look like little millipedes.

@HU-543652748 THANK YOU!!! I just googled and that is 1000% what they are. I found this site for how to treat them (https://homeguides.sfgate.com/control-millipedes-potted-plants-68557.html) and somehow, I’ve instinctually been doing the correct things so far 🙌🏽 Grateful for your response!!