Earthworms eat seedlings!

[John in Andalucia]

An article today, which may change your opinion about earthworms - which apparently, are able to make group decisions.

Earthworms eat live seeds and plants, scientists find

[John Case]

I am not convinced......so there.

[Walter John]

You have to keep piling on mulch as we all do when growing palms, don't we, don't we ?

[DoomsDave]

Dang, John, you come up with the most interesting stuff!

Where do you find the time?

I never even imagined that worms ate seeds and plants.

I note that they appear to like legumes, and, most palm seeds are too large for them to eat.

[Tyrone]

Earthworms in potted palm seedling trays is bad for other reasons. They break the soil down into glug, impeding drainage, which in a pot is disasterous, though not a problem in the ground. But earthworms eating live plant material isn't as bad as it sounds, as they'll eat weeds too. This test was done in a lab. Maybe the soil sample they had them in was devoid of something they needed so they started eating living tissue.

Best regards

Tyrone

[simona]

Even if stated otherwise up till now, I had my very bad experiences with earthworms in pots.

Some Strelitzias have rapidly recovered after I changed the soil which had no other pest problem but the "beneficial" earthworms.

[Kris]

Due to pets at home i stopped using organic manure long back,since they eat them when its wet.But the soil fabric has destroyed very much due to lack of earth worms...

Now the soil inhabits red ants and termites.

[John in Andalucia]

So in short, good in the ground, but not in pots! I'm not totally convinced by the "science" part either. At least, I don't think palms are at risk. Too many other predators.

[Dypsisdean]

As with all scientific studies, don't jump to simple conclusions and study the data carefully.

Apparently this study envolved only one type of earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, known in parts of Europe as the common earthworm, but in the U.S. as nightcrawlers. Nightcrawlers can be 10 inches long (25 cm) or more, and I never saw any in my garden in California, although I had plenty of worms.

So I don't take that article as indicating that all earthworms, most much smaller, exhibit this behavior. Here's a pic and some info on this particular earthworm.

http://www.naturenorth.com/fall/ncrawler/ncrawler2.html

[John in Andalucia]

As with all scientific studies, don't jump to simple conclusions and study the data carefully.

Apparently this study envolved only one type of earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, known in parts of Europe as the common earthworm, but in the U.S. as nightcrawlers. Nightcrawlers can be 10 inches long (25 cm) or more, and I never saw any in my garden in California, although I had plenty of worms.

So I don't take that article as indicating that all earthworms, most much smaller, exhibit this behavior. Here's a pic and some info on this particular earthworm.

http://www.naturenor.../ncrawler2.html

Dean, my interest in posting the article is more the fact that ANY earthworm should be found to feed on live plants and seeds, when traditionally, we understand worms to feed on dead plant material only. If it breaks a few commonly-held beliefs, then that's good enough for me!

[edric]

Pure Coco-peat, with a little Perlite, ( for your potted palms ), solves the problem, worms will avoid it like the plague, Coco-peat takes 7 to 9 years to decompose, as apposed to your average potting soil, which is nothing but worm castings in less than 18 months, of course you'd still have a little Perlite in those worm castings, lot of good it seems to do, Ed

[Dypsisdean]

As with all scientific studies, don't jump to simple conclusions and study the data carefully.

Apparently this study envolved only one type of earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, known in parts of Europe as the common earthworm, but in the U.S. as nightcrawlers. Nightcrawlers can be 10 inches long (25 cm) or more, and I never saw any in my garden in California, although I had plenty of worms.

So I don't take that article as indicating that all earthworms, most much smaller, exhibit this behavior. Here's a pic and some info on this particular earthworm.

http://www.naturenor.../ncrawler2.html

Dean, my interest in posting the article is more the fact that ANY earthworm should be found to feed on live plants and seeds, when traditionally, we understand worms to feed on dead plant material only. If it breaks a few commonly-held beliefs, then that's good enough for me!

I understand John. I didn't want all earthworms to get a bad name. I still rescue them when I am digging a hole. In fact, fisherman in the U.S. can buy earthworms or nighcrawlers for bait - two different things.

[peachy]

Worms are supposed to be bad for potted plants, but I am forever digging them out of mine when I repot or plant them out. My garden soil is crawling with worms, supposedly a sign of a healthy garden. I do get a few of those big fat icky rhinobeetle grubs so the magpies and kookaburras watch me when I am digging, knowing that a snack is on the way.

Peachy

[John in Andalucia]

As with all scientific studies, don't jump to simple conclusions and study the data carefully.

Apparently this study envolved only one type of earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, known in parts of Europe as the common earthworm, but in the U.S. as nightcrawlers. Nightcrawlers can be 10 inches long (25 cm) or more, and I never saw any in my garden in California, although I had plenty of worms.

So I don't take that article as indicating that all earthworms, most much smaller, exhibit this behavior. Here's a pic and some info on this particular earthworm.

http://www.naturenor.../ncrawler2.html

Dean, my interest in posting the article is more the fact that ANY earthworm should be found to feed on live plants and seeds, when traditionally, we understand worms to feed on dead plant material only. If it breaks a few commonly-held beliefs, then that's good enough for me!

I understand John. I didn't want all earthworms to get a bad name. I still rescue them when I am digging a hole. In fact, fisherman in the U.S. can buy earthworms or nighcrawlers for bait - two different things.

Good point! I'm glad I'm not the only one who relocates worms - and trapped butterflies and honey bees and.. well everything except flies, ants, cockroaches and of course, palm weevils! I am known to rescue moths from the swimming pool too. I like to set them down on a terracotta tile and watch the water evaporate from their little wings.

[KyleNcal]

I've noticed in cold hardy musa pups in pots that should have a bit of rot, but should otherwise survive, that when there is earth worms they devour the rotten parts and seem to keep eating into the good parts and kill it.

Thanks for the info, now to me its more than just a crazy observation.

Edited May 27, 2010 by KyleNcal

[DoomsDave]

Dean makes a good point.

As do the rest, Re earthworms in pots.

Note that there are many kinds of earthworms, found all over the world. Some get huge, to 9 feet or more long. (One species gets to 20 feet! No jive . . . . )

[palmcurry]

Dean makes a good point.

As do the rest, Re earthworms in pots.

Note that there are many kinds of earthworms, found all over the world. Some get huge, to 9 feet or more long. (One species gets to 20 feet! No jive . . . . )

Valid article an all.....but earthworms are still more of a blessing than a burden here for me.

[Jack Daw]

I wish this were true for red wrigglers as well. But usually even at very low temps, my vermicompost piles are literally covered with thousands of small seedlings (tomatoes, papaya, ...). Compost worms (Eisenia...) seem to be on the other side of the barricade with this "seedling eating". But then I must add that there is certain collctive knowledge/orietation. They react very fast and can be surprising at times.

However the most collective and planning species that I have to fight in my garden are ants. Not only the they mass produce certain fungi, literally dozens of animals etc, but they also create minigardens with plants they like to later eat and use as maturation/shade places for their another popular food: aphids and louses.

But earthworms are at least productive and their castings form the very humus. So I guess it's better to be invaded by earthworms, than ants and termites.

[Jack Daw]

...I do get a few of those big fat icky rhinobeetle grubs so the magpies and kookaburras watch me when I am digging, knowing that a snack is on the way.

...

I totally know what you mean and I love it! Those birds are just intelligent enough to see the feast coming. Many birds have also built some nests in my garden. To be close to the food source.

[JANAIY]

At the end what I do with 2 earthworms in my Licuala palm pot? Take them out? I found one wiggled around the roots but apparently their was dead spagnum moss from seedling age and maybe they just eat the dead matter? 
So what I do? 
 

[John in Andalucia]

I did a double-take there for a minute, because I was going to post a topic about my recent concerns for baby slugs in pots. Earthworms are fine, IMO. Not so sure about baby slugs. Hideous things when they get older.