Worm tea worry

[WIB]

Something invisible is chewing up various tender herb-like things in my house: basil left in a glass, coleus cuttings, etc. The orchids, so far, don't seem to be affected. The critters also attacking a dish garden I made up for my mother-in-law, which is now in her house. This problem has appeared since my first shipment of worm tea, of which I gave a small dose to the dish garden. Is it possible that there are larvae of something small and hungry in the worm tea. Has anyone else had problems of this sort? The source was Our Vital Earth. -- Bill

[NancyG]

I use worm tea but haven't had anything like that happen to me.

Hope you fing the culprit soon.

NancyG

[WIB]

Could be the compost bucket, too, I imagine. -- Bill

[Tobi]

Bill,
I don't believe the culprit is in the worm tea. Sound like you picked up
something in the compost. Check it out and see if you see any insects or larva
in it.

[mbasden]

I hope you find it I had one of the worst "invisible invaders" this past winter. the only thing I saw was small turds around a coffee table where one of my schomburkias was hanging. After a good look around I found a garden slug had taken up residence and ate the bottom out of my plant. It later caught an infection I could not get rid of and died. Yes you need to find the critter ASAP.

[PhalPal]

I haven't had this problem and use worm tea a lot indoors.

[Sharyn]

I think you need to look for critters. The worm tea is NOT the cause. In fact, it will help to prevent many critters. Perhaps you should check further for problems in the media.

A few of our members have had problems with cockroaches and many others had problems with slugs. You'll need to investigate further, but I can assure you, it not the worm tea.

[WIB]

Thanks to all for reassurance and recommendations. No critter located as yet. Compost bucket out to freeze. Worm tea still in use. (I also have used it in the office, where there's no sign of blight, so I'm working on the critter theory right now.) Again, thanks. -- Bill

[cattlover]

I'm certain your problem critter is going to turn out to be a mouse. They can devastate new growths and they just love newly opened blooms . Set a couple of traps and within a day or two I'll bet you catch one. I keep traps set all the time , especially once cold weather arrives

[WIB]

Many thanks to all for the advice and commiseration. The mouse hypothesis is beginning to look like a reasonable one, although we don't have the perp arrersted yet. At least none of the orchids has shown any sign of damage. I assume that mice don't much like them. - Bill