I had these worm looking white/clear shells in my palm tree house plant soil. Not on the limbs or anything just in the soil.. it grossed me out and I put the plant outside.. cleaned the roots and pot. Used new soil and re planted it. Can you tell me what these were and why I had them?

Hi kimlenznorth, and a big to ATP.

Do you have a photo of the culprit?
Or maybe a drawing of what they looked like? I picture a worm like things as long and slender. But you mention shells, so I am a bit confused?

Sounds like you did the right thing by moving it outdoors and doing a complete cleaning, down to the roots. Wonder if there would be any remains of the critters in the old potting soil?

Hi kimlenxnorth! Welcome from me too!

I wonder if the pests were Sow Bugs/Pill Bugs? Sometimes they are white in color and they do sorta resemble little shells when curled up:

http://www.bugfacts.net/pill-b...

https://insects.tamu.edu/field...

They are roly poly or pill bugs and they are crustaceans. They molt and leave a little shell like skin. They generally only munch on dead plant material in damp places but I just found a group of them munching on my sempervivum roots on one of my plants. I used diatomaceous earth, mixed it into the soil and replanted the dozen or so that were around it. I had to amend the whole rock garden bed. They are doing fine now and the destruction has stopped. Some people dust their roots with it before planting. You can get diatomaceous earth at any Tractor Supply store and sometimes find it at Lowes. You can also get it online. It will kill insects around the house too. We put it around the outside of the house and puff it into the kitchen cabinets too. Haven't seen a bug in the house in years! Take precautions to not breath in the dust. Hope this helps!

Does diatomaceous earth hurt earthworms?

No, DE will not hurt earthworms if sprinkled/dusted on the plants. I have used DE directly in the soil to deter ants with success.

jvdubb said:Does diatomaceous earth hurt earthworms?

Yes, if they come in contact with it. Most often, people just spread it around on the surface of the soil which would minimize the chances of earthworms contacting it. If you mix enough of it into the soil, though, it could have an impact on worms, or any soft-bodied "bug".

Okay, so usually DE is dusted onto the plants and the earthworms woud NOT come i to contact. Sorry for the confusion.

Also note that DE is only useful if it's dry. Once it gets wet you need to reapply.

Karen

I've wondered about this. Certainly all the packaging says this but I'm wondering if you need to reapply simply because it washes away and isn't where it will do it's job.

tbennett44 said: ...You can get diatomaceous earth at any Tractor Supply store ...

Thanks for the tip, Terese. I didn't know I could pick this up at TSC. They're one of my regular shopping stops so this info helps a bunch.

to ATP!

Why is DE sold at a tractor supply store?

What is it used for there?

Rick
If you don't have a Tractor Supply then you may not know they are not really about tractors , they cover all farm needs and then some (snacks and greeting cards)

They sell Diatomaceous Earth at Tractor Supply because people buy it as a feed supplement for beef, goats, sheep, chickens, quail, ducks, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc. It is also reported to help keep intestinal worms at bay. It is also used as a dust to keep fleas and flies down either on the animals or in their bedding areas. I have also purchased the 'food grade' DE as a powder just like flour which is easy to dust onto plant foliage.

If you don't have a Tractor Supply then you may not know they are not really about tractors

Ah! Yes, I didn't realize.

I had never heard of a tractor supply store before... here, we call them farm stores.

Tractor Supply Co. is actually the name of the chain, we call TSC or Tractor Supply.

Guess the closest Tractor Supply Store to you would be in Bloomington or Inver Grove Heights. I like my (semi-local 37 miles away) TS because they let me bring my dogs in when I shop.

greene said: I have also purchased the 'food grade' DE as a powder just like flour which is easy to dust onto plant foliage.

So there may be hope if there's something safer for myself to use DE by way of application onto my sempervivum foliage?!!!
Please, any idea where I can buy this form of DE? is this only available in "farm" stores?

greene said:It is also used as a dust to keep fleas and flies down either on the animals or in their bedding areas.

I'm surprised at this. I was under the impression DE should not be inhaled.

I think that's true, Evan.

I use a systemic insecticide on my plants when I bring them in the house in fall. To each his own.

Karen