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Pests/Draecena and worms

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Expert: Mike Mascio - 9/25/2009


Question

draecena.jpg
I have an old draecena tree with very woody bark. The nursery told me it was about 25-30 yrs old when I bought it 9 yrs ago. It stands indoors, next to the door to my balcony. Recently I've noticed worms on the floor around the tree. They appear blackish, hard, curled into a spiral and almost as if it's simply the skin casing after being shed. When uncoiled, they are about 1 inch long. I don't know if they are falling from the draecena or coming in from outside. I've inspected the leaves, bark and soil but don't see any evidence of insects or worms. Can you shed any light on this problem? I've attached a photo of the tree that includes a closeup of the very barky trunk.

Answer
I can't say for sure how the worms got into the house except that a moth may have laid eggs near the base of the tree. The good news is that you can control them with a product called BT, short for Bacillus Thuringiensis. It is more commonly sold under the brand names Greenstep, Dipel or MVP.

BT comes in a powder form that is non-toxic to humans and beneficials but highly effective against caterpillars and all types of worms. As with other organic insecticides, you can purchase this product through on-line catalogs such as Gardens Alive or locally at many garden centers.  

Have a good weekend.  

Mike  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you Mike. I will definitely try your suggestion.


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Mike Mascio

Expertise

I have been an avid gardener since 1985 and an AllExpert volunteer since 1998. I specialize in soil preparation, seed starting and plant propagation, flowers, vegetables, and general landscaping. I am a strong advocate of the square foot method of gardening and the use of organic controls for pests and diseases.

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