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Little white maggots in avocado soil

anab87anab87 Posts: 3
in Plants
I've been growing my avocado plant and it's looking like a little tree now, which I'm really happy with. However, I've noticed white maggots that spring around when the soil gets disturbed or when I water it. I don't know what to do to get rid of them, but a friend has suggested re-potting the plant and washing its roots?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    They sound like Springtails ... they don't do any damage but are an indication that the potting compost is probably too wet ... allow it to dry out more between waterings and put the pot in a saucer with gravel so that it can drain freely.



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • anab87anab87 Posts: 3
    Thanks so much for your reply :)
  • TheChunkTheChunk Posts: 25
    This thread has just reminded me about these little blighters that I recently found in the compost of a large pot with a hardy Fuschia growing in it.

    Do you think they would be the same thing Dovefromabove? It is in quite a sheltered damp spot.

  • Bright starBright star Posts: 1,153
    Those look like Vine weevil grubs to me. 
    Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    edited April 2018
    @TheChunk: Yep, vine weevil and a real problem as they'll eat all of the roots eventually.  They much prefer potted plants to those grown in the ground.  My preference is to treat with Vine weevil nematodes as those won't harm beneficial insects like insecticides do.  On small plants you can wash the roots and replant in fresh growing medium.  Once you have gotten rid of them, putting a 3-5cm layer of grit on the top of all your pots will help prevent them returning.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes ... what Bob said  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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