Question
I have self watering plant pots and today I noticed some very small white worms in the water as I was watering my plants, What are they and how do I get rid of them?

         Thanks,   Sheila

Answer
Sheila,

They are most likey the larva of fungus gnats. Overwatering is causing root rot that is attracting the fungus gnats. The fungus gnats are the same as fruit flys that are attracted to overripe bananas on your counter. They are there because the bananas are starting to rot. You get rid of the bananas and they go away. You have to solve to problem of the rotting roots and the fungus gnats will go away.

With self watering pots I don't know if you can solve the problem because the tend to keep the plant wet, not just moist constantly and that causes root rot. I do not reccommend self watering pots because they keep plants too wet.  In a plastic or clay pot with a drain tray my reccommendations would be asw follows. After you water it you should wait an hour and empty the drain tray so the plant is not left sitting in water.

Remove the drain tray and set it in the bathtub to let it drain overnight. You can water it with a bottle of rubbing alcohol and that will kill the worms but it will not solve the problem of the plant being too wet and the plant will eventually die unless you repot it in a pot with a drain tray where you can control the water better. Good luck.

Darlene