Question
QUESTION: I've nearly killed my plant and am trying to bring it back to health.  I've fought
off a scale infestation and am checking daily that no new scale is appearing.  
So far so good.  In the course of my inspections I've begun to notice tiny (1 to
2 mm) silver bugs moving around on the soil surface.  I haven't seen any of
them flying.  Now I want to know if these are harming my plant, and if so,
how to get rid of them.  

The plant is in an 8in glazed ceramic pot with potting soil mix.  The bottom
third of the pot is gravel for drainage, and I water using a Waterwatcher that
only releases water to the plant when its sensor sees the soil is dry, although
this week I washed off the plant so the soil got pretty wet and is just now
drying out.  

I'm down to 5 leaves left on my plant.  Is all hope lost?

ANSWER: Hi Jen,

I think that the insect larvae that are in the soil are the least of your problems. If your lime is already down to just 5 leaves then it is very likely dying and beyond recovery. I'm sorry to tell you that, but let me explain where you may have gone wrong.

Dwarf limes are very pretty plants, but extremely difficult houseplants. They really belong in a greenhouse or conservatory because they need so much light all day long.

Putting plants in pots without drainage holes is always a mistake. Putting drainage material in the bottom of the pot simply does not work and is not a substitute for drainage holes. Excess water has no place to go so it gradually builds up in the bottom of the pot and rots the roots. I suspect that has happened to your plant.

I am not familiar with the Waterwatcher that you referred to but I doubt that it is doing what you think it is doing. Perhaps you can send me a link to this device. I tried Googling it to no avail.

Sorry about the bad news.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.
     
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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]
  


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again.

My pot does have drainage holes and I've checked that they aren't blocked.  
Here is the web site for the waterer I'm using.  http://www.plantwatcher.com/

Whether the lime dies or not, I would like to know what the bugs are and how
to kill them in case they move to one of my other plants.  They aren't larvea,
but are adult bugs with antenea about a third the length of their bodies.  The
legs are too small for me to count, but it looks like the body has two sections.  
I live in northern VA if location makes any difference.

Answer
Hi Jen,

Thanks for the Waterwatcher link. The science behind this device is sound. The key to making it work effectively is making sure that the tiny sensor is located exactly at the the right depth in the soil. For example, with your lime the sensor should be quite close to the top of the soil to prevent the soil from drying too deeply into the pot.

Adding drainage material to the bottom of a pot is most commonly (and mistakenly) used with pots without drainage holes. I am glad to learn that your pot does have drainage holes. For the future, don't add anything but good potting mix to the bottom of pots.

There are a myriad of different pests that may enter the soil depending on the source of the soil. It is best to use sterilized, peat-based, soilless potting mixes to avoid these pest problems. Using compost or garden soil is not a good idea for indoor plants. It is very rare that any of thwse soil critters damage the plant or its roots. I suspect your critters may be some type of centipede.

The best way to eliminate soil bugs is by submerging the pot up to its rim in a tub or sink filled with plain water. Leave it for about 30 minutes. The flooding will cause the critters to rise to the surface in search of air.

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

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.
     
Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]