Question
Hi there,my mom has a cane plant that she really likes but when she went to re-pot it the other day she discovered tiny worms in the soil.She knows how sensitive the plant is to chlorinated water and such but she is not sure how to deal with the worms,we were wondering if she could use malthion on it without hurting the cane plant. Thank You,
                                                   Gwen

Answer
Hi Gwen,

Malathion is pretty potent stuff and when used as a soil drench it will probably kill the soil critters. These critters are not harming the plant so they can be left there without damage.

More likely to damage the corn plant is the repotting. Corn plants have very small root systems and rarely need to be repotted. If moved to a pot that is too large, it will take too long for the soil to dry out and the roots will slowly rot and dry. This is the most common of all plant care mistakes.

Finally, I would note that the amount of chlorine that is typically added to tap water is not concentrated enough to damage plants. Chlorinated swimming pool water often is, but not tap water.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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