Nematodes?

Hi

This is my first post and my concern is how to get rid of nematodes (white tiny worms) in the soil. I am doing container chili growing - i.e., use soil from packs.

Will dousing with solution of malathion from time to time help? Any more natural but also effective way?

How did these nematodes (?) get into the soil/container? My plastic containers are 3 feet high above the ground.

I also notice some tiny fly-like insects that like to visit my soil...are they egg laying and thus the worms?

I plant sweet peppers (someone bought from USA and gave me to eat and I planted the seeds - p/s I live in Malaysia). Worms were spotted over a week ago and sprayed some malathion solution.

* will the solution of malathion lose its potency after a few days of not using it?

Thanks, appreciate yr help.

are nematodes visible without magnification? i think you just have run of the mill maggots from those flies.

I wouldn't use Malathion, even the smell makes me sick. Try letting the top soil dry out. What do you mean soil from packs?

apparently they're not that sensitive to it either. Apparently there are nematodes visible to the naked eye in their later stages, but they're still super tiny. like some fly maggots are pretty tiny, but these sound extra tiny. whats the health of the plants?

EDIT: Apparently apparently is my favorite word today. whatever, i haven't finished my coffee yet

First off, welcome to The Hot Pepper!


I would be very cautious about applying Malathion in a drench to plants that I was going to harvest pods to eat. I don't know how much will be taken up by the roots, or how long it will persist in the plant tissue.

How did you identify the worms as nematodes? Most of the soil living nematodes in my part of the world are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Malaysia is tropical, correct? So, you might have some kinds of nematodes we've never seen before.

Hi again from the EQUATOR

Nematodes or worms, these are about 3 to 5mm, white and off white. Next time I get my digital camera and with the MACRO feature try to take a shot for everyone to view (and thus, we can learn what kind of worms/nematodes also exist).

The plants nearest to where I spotted them are healthy, one or two were sickly. Maybe these were "hit" while the earlier ones had not been approached.

The soil from packs are prepacked "soil for planting". Well, since I am currently in Malaysia and this is the rainforest kind of heat, humidity, rain etc...the soil is packed with insects, worms, etc. This house I am staying in is rented and thus, i do not plant into the ground.

OK, so, better not use Malathion, thanks for advice. Maybe I will start pounding garlic and neem and hunt down some nematodes - if there still are any and see what is the effect of this combo "GARNEEM" solution on them - maybe I get to see these worms do their death dance.

By the way, I am very very impressed at the great strides and sharing of info by members, contributors and experts here in this website and other chili sites. I am full of respect for you all. In the South East Asia region, chili is an EVERYDAY thing, I must say,what I found is very limited and confined knowledge to some organizations like AVRDC Taiwan.

QUESTION: For commercial production, how high are Jalapenos permitted to grow before they are pinched (to encourage bushing out). Habaneros? Cambucis/ Bishop's hat? I am really very new in this hobby of growing chili and peppers. One habanero is 15 inches high, flowers bloom and so far, no setting of fruit - wonder why. Cambucis (2) are 14 to 16 inches (have pruned back). Jalapenos have shot to 13 inches.

I will be grateful for advice given. THANKS TO ALL.

5101 said:

QUESTION: For commercial production, how high are Jalapenos permitted to grow before they are pinched (to encourage bushing out). Habaneros? Cambucis/ Bishop's hat? I am really very new in this hobby of growing chili and peppers. One habanero is 15 inches high, flowers bloom and so far, no setting of fruit - wonder why. Cambucis (2) are 14 to 16 inches (have pruned back). Jalapenos have shot to 13 inches.

I will be grateful for advice given. THANKS TO ALL.

Click to expand...

First of all, welcome from Fort Worth, Texas.

I am not a commercial grower, but I have this thing about plants...I let them do their thing and grow like they would if I were not around. I do, however, trim the lower leaves off when I transplant. It seems to me that pinching the tops/ends of major shoots is interfering with the growth process...but that is just me thinking. All I do is plant them, water them, watch for pest and take pictures of each stage of growth. I am sure there are "growers" that pinch tops to encourage bushiness and increased production, but I just don't. My 2 cents.

Especially on habs which are typically pretty bushy, topping is not beneficial.

I would not top any either AJ.

Sometimes a strong wind or an animal will break one, I have never found this to be beneficial.

5101 said:

One habanero is 15 inches high, flowers bloom and so far, no setting of fruit - wonder why.

Click to expand...

do you keep it inside or in a protected area where bugs and wind can't get to it? when my hab was in for the winter he needed a good shake a day to set fruit. or just take a q-tip or paint brush and go from flower to flower and pollinate them your self by giving it a gentle rub in the center of the flower (a little more time intensive then the shakey shakey method...)

AlabamaJack said:

I am not a commercial grower, but I have this thing about plants...I let them do their thing and grow like they would if I were not around.

Click to expand...

Ha! Liar, liar, pants on fire! You're pushing hydro juice that has growth hormones and enzymes in it on those poor, unsuspecting baby plants! They're under the age of consent, they have no idea what you're doing to them.

Oh wait, I get it. When your peppers get called before Congress to testify about steroid abuse in extreme pepper growing, you want them to have plausible deniability! That's it, isn't it? I'm *so* on to you, you...you seedling exploiter, you!

One organic remedy that I use is a combination of garlic and hot pepper juice....in a mortar and pestle grind up 1 very hot pepper (I use Thai), add a clove of garlic and mash up completely..add about 1 cup of water to this, stir well and let sit overnight to infuse. Strain through cheesecloth or paper towel and add another cup of room temp water to this mix....water the soil with this solution so as to drench completely and let drain....try this on just a few plants to begin with to make sure that they don't have a bad reaction, but it has always worked for me on many of my plants.

how to upload nematode pix. etc

Hi ... Sorry for the few days delay. It is Chinese New Year - big thing and so, all the festivities and weariness.

I managed to get two or three pix and its the best I could do..not going to dirty my camera lens. So, HOW do I upload for interested hot pepper friends to see?

Predator flies: Dicholopodid flies (bluish metallic wings and thin long legs....one website from Australia mentioned it is a useful predator fly, but do they devour broad mites too? They seem to perch on top of the leaves than hang upside down (where the broad mites hide).

Looks like I have to investigate and take pix of the tiny fly(?) insect that may have contributed to creating the 'nematodes' I see.

Well, hot pepper aficionados are a determined lot and I must follow suit, in growing them, seeing to their health. Painful lessons sometimes, right?

Thanks for the tip on 'helping' the habs to set fruit-pollinate. 2 tiny fruit did emerge, THANK GOD indeed.

Will end now, got to catch up on 2 days worth of sleep. The Chinese New Year noisiness - fireworks whistling and exploding near midnight and past midnight makes for explosive tempers.

P/s, As for the habs, well, I do not want 5 feet giants and the rest, I will test pinch out 2 plants (Jalapenos).

Thanks for the idea and tip on Garlic and Thai chili test on the nematodes, will find time to do "organic-way of annihilating" of nematodes.