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Centipedes and centipedes in the potting soil in the flower pot is not a very pleasant idea for most people. Many are disgusted by the otherwise harmless and even useful animals. If they can be found in the potting soil, that's actually not a bad sign. Unfortunately, the sight and contact with these fascinating insects often drives us completely crazy. Despite all the advantages, we don't want them in our homes and want to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
centipede
Arthropods, whose Latin name is Anthropoda, are a relatively large group within insects. This includes the centipedes and centipedes. Of the more than 10,000 species that are known, the majority live in the tropics. There the animals can sometimes reach a very considerable size. Some of them are also poisonous. The species that can be found in northern Europe can be classified as completely harmless. They pose no danger to humans or mammals. However, they feed mainly on other insects. Among them are many that we would classify as pests. Consequently, one should be happy about any arthropod that has nested near our plants.
tip: If a centipede appears in the apartment, you shouldn't just kill it. It makes more sense to catch him with a jar and a piece of paper and then put him outside.
Centipede in the potting soil
It is striking that anthropodae can be found again and again in the soil of our indoor plants. When you see them for the first time, it is usually associated with a great shock. However, there is no reason to panic. The animals are completely harmless to the plant. On the contrary: They are even useful because typical plant pests such as lice are among their prey. The question naturally arises as to where the disgusting arthropods come from. The answer to that becomes clear when you know that the earth is something of a natural habitat for these animals. They play an important part in the rotting and composting processes that form the basis of nutrient-rich soil. It is therefore perfectly normal that the eggs or at least a few adult animals are also contained in this soil. So if you get soil from the garden or from compost for your houseplants, it is quite possible that you will also bring centipedes or centipedes into your home.
tip: The problem rarely occurs with high-quality potting soil purchased from specialist retailers. The soil contained there is namely hygienically prepared before packaging.
Get rid of centipedes in the potting soil
No matter how useful these animals may be, you still want to get rid of them. This can basically be done in three ways. It is usually enough to remove the animals by hand or with the help of a glass. If you want to be on the safe side, you should subject your plant to an extensive immersion bath. This is the best way to do it:
- fill a large bucket with fresh water
- Place the plant and its pot in the bucket
- the flower pot must be completely covered with water
- leave the plant in the bucket for at least ten minutes
- then remove the pot and drain well
- it is best to place it on an absorbent surface to dry
- Pour water in the bucket into the toilet or use it to water the garden
As a rule, neither the adult Anthropoda nor their eggs survive such a procedure. It is important that the soaked soil in the pot can dry out well afterwards. In most cases, the plant should not be watered for a few days. If centipedes or centipedes reappear on the plant or in its soil after the water bath, you cannot avoid changing the soil completely. It works like this:
- Take the plant and the substrate out of the pot
- completely free the root system from the potting soil
- be very careful not to cause damage
- also thoroughly clean the plant pot
- then replant the plant with fresh potting soil from the specialist market
Of course, the removed soil must not be used again for indoor plants. It is best to dispose of it in the compost.
control agents
By the way, it is not a particularly good idea to try to control centipedes and centipedes with insecticides. There are certainly means that lead to the animals dying. However, one should always be skeptical about the use of these funds. Of course home remedies against Anthropoda are not known. What would help against these insects is a room temperature that is as dry and cold as possible, as they love a humid and warm climate. However, this may not be good for most plants.