Millipedes?!!

[maoandmee]

I recently posted in the Newbie area my discovery of these little buggers. In the last week or so, I found about 12-15 more of them in my four orchid plants.

A co-worker had mentioned that "DE" is non-poisonous and something that could help this problem.

Question: What is "DE" and how does it work if it's not a poison? Will it kill the millipedes or just make the environment so uncomfortable that they'll look for other lodging?

I just want to make sure I use something "safe" as I have a nosy cat running around the apartment.

Thanks in advance for reading the post.

[Fabolusus]

I'm not sure what "DE" is, but I just went through a millipede infestation. I recently bought a huge Phal. philipinenses in double spike. The spikes budded and then bloomed, but for some reason it kept dropping leaves . It went from 12 leaves to 4 before I decided that enough was enough. I uprooted it to discover at least 20 millipedes munching down on roots! I discarded all of the potting mix, cut off all of the damaged roots, and ran water through the roots until all of the bugs were gone. I then spayed the roots with physan before repotting.

DE is diatomacious earth. The earth is smooth to us but like glass chards to slugs, millipedes and the like. It is eco friendly. Diatomite (stones used as potting medium), is the unground mineral of this same stuff. I use the DE around my hostas every year as slugs think it's their lettuce garden.

[maoandmee]

My project for the weekend:

I will do as Fabolusus and clean & repot each plant. And since this DE sounds safe for cat-cat's nose, I'll try mixing some of it in the potting medium.

You guys rock!! Thanks Fabolusus & Orchid126.