Question
I’ve had a Norfolk pine for 4 years. I noticed this morning that it was infested with worms. They measure 5-6 centimeters, are red, very thin and translucent. Last night, I put the pine in the bath to give it a shower and left it there overnight. There are no signs of plant dieback, but I must admit I didn’t like seeing several worms wandering around in the bath. What can I do to get rid of them?
Answer
These are probably manure worms (Eisenia fetida), an earthworm found in compost and manure. Its presence in a houseplant is exceptional, but not unheard of. First of all, you should know that manure worms do no harm to plants (which is why your Norfolk pine [Auraucaria heterophylla] is doing so well). They’re more of a nuisance to you than anything else.
There’s no point in trying to drown them: worms can live under water for several days if necessary. On the contrary, if you let your plant’s potting soil dry out a little more between waterings, it will drive them out. And that’s what I suggest you do. Place the pot on a saucer of moist potting soil and let the potting soil in the pot dry out. The manure worms will immigrate to the moist potting soil below and you can get rid of them.
The other ecological solution would be to repot the plant by changing its potting soil. If it’s been in the same pot for four years, it may be due anyway.
Manure Worm
Eisenia fetida, also known as manure worm or red worm, is a species of earthworm belonging to the Lumbricidae family. It measures between 5 and 10 cm (2-4″) in length, with a brownish-red body ringed with lighter stripes, and a clearly visible clitellum when fully grown. Unlike earthworms, which burrow deeply, Eisenia fetida lives on the surface, mainly in decomposing organic matter such as compost and manure.
Hermaphroditic, it reproduces rapidly by laying cocoons containing several embryos, reaching maturity in just a few weeks. It prefers humid, temperate environments (15 to 25°C, 59 to 77?) and can survive underwater for a few days, but naturally migrates to better-oxygenated areas. However, Eisenia fetida is not indigenous to Canada; it originated in Europe and was introduced to North America, probably through the manure and compost trade. Used in vermicomposting to enrich soil, it is also bred for fishing.
Larry Hodgson published thousands of articles and 65 books over the course of his career, in both French and English. His son, Mathieu, has made it his mission to make his father’s writings accessible to the public. This text was originally published in Le Soleil on January 24, 2009.
A warning: if you find extremely active worms in houseplants or elsewhere, they are likely to be jumping worms (they literally do jump!). These are an invasive species doing real harm, and should never be released, plus they should be reported. They ruin the soil and kill plants.
Are these the same worms that people use in vermiculture?
They are!