I am currently having worm infestation problems with my umbrella tree (brassaia actinophylla?).

I bought my dear plant about three weeks ago from a Home Depot (I'm located in Cambridge, MA), unlabeled, but seemingly healthy. However, there were many small worms (the length and color of a white rice grain, but three times thinner, approx 1 cm x 0.01 cm) crawling around in its pot at that time already. The plant lady there said it wasn't a problem.

I believed her until a few days ago when the lower leaves (the leaves towards the inside of the tree's canopy) became shriveled and dark greyish-brown. The other green leaves surrounding it look heavy and limp. At first I thought it was due to lack of watering, but it has been watered several times a week already. I looked into the pot and was immediately frightened by the dramatic increase of tiny white worms on the surface of the soil - almost entirely covering the surface of the soil!

What are these exponentially-multiplying worms, and are they responsible for the tree's obvious unhappiness? What should I do to get rid of them and make the plant healthy again? Please help!

Thanks,
Lisa

On second thought, perhaps it's possible overwatering that's causing ALL the worms to surface, making it seem like an increase in number?

Still helpless,
Lisa

Al

Many people find that fungus gnats and their larvae are more difficult to get rid of than Tapla suggests. Changing potting soils to something that is coarser and drains rapidly would be helpful. But there are products on the market that will take care of the problem with no danger to you. One brand name is Gnatrol. It is a biological control agent that will control those little larvae as you water. You may have to reapply a few times to finally get rid of them all, but it WILL work. OR, you could purchase the same Bt that is used to control mosquito larvae in ponds, pools, bird baths, and mix up some of that to water into your soil. It's the same stuff. Mosquitos and the fungus gnats are closely related, believe it or not.

Mind you, we don't know if the fungus gnat larvae is what is causing the problems with your plant! That is another reason why it might be a good idea to return it. It does sound like you are overwatering your plant, by the way. ;-)