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Curl grubs in pot plant

Hi there! I have never had a home or garden until about 6 months ago, and have been delighted by a little cumquat tree I got from bunnings the week we moved in. It went from flowers to an abundance of fruit for its 3 tiny branches - but recently started looking a bit sadder and leaves were spotted with yellow. I decided to repot it (finally) and got some citrus potting mix.

When I took it out of the original pot I discovered 4 fat curl grubs munching away on the roots! I was horrified - but after checking there were no more, continued to put it into the new pot and soil. I later read on google that maybe I should have rinsed the roots to make sure there was none of the 'infected' soil left attached, and discarded the original soil. Is that right?

TLDR: Curl worms discovered when repotting - should I chuck the whole lot out now and get new soil?!

Community manager's note: Check out How to control curl grubs and army worms for expert advice.

Photo on 2-7-20 at 12.48 pm.jpg Photo on 3-7-20 at 12.07 pm.jpg

Would love your help with this!

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Comments

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @EllaCourtney. Many thanks for your question, I'd be happy to assist.

It's great to have you join us and I'm sorry to hear about your curl grub issue. I am not aware of any chemical treatment on the market that is tested and suitable for use with food crops. My advice would be, as you have mentioned, to bare root the plant and change the soil out completely. The issue with leaving the soil is that the juvenile stages of larvae can be undetectable. This year Queensland is having a horrible season of curl grub infestations and our suppliers have been having trouble keeping up with the demand for lawn products.

Let me mention the wonderful @Noelle to see if she might have some alternative methods for control to share.

Please let me know if you need further assistance or have questions.

Mitchell

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/9168#Comment_9168

Hi @EllaCourtney and @MitchellMc

Because it is a citrus, I would be reluctant to 'bare root' the plant to ensure there are no grubs or eggs remaining around the roots. Citrus have surface fibrous root systems and deeply resent root disturbance. So rather then remove all traces of potting mix from around the roots, I'd try a soil drench of ecoOil or neem oil, both of which can be safely used for the treatment of edible plants. Read the labels for instructions on how much to use per litre or bucket of water, mix it well and pour into the potting mix until excess drains out the base of the pot.

The curl grubs possibly found their way originally into the pot through drainage holes - stand the pot up off the ground on pot feet or some bricks to prevent this happening again.

The other way they can enter potting mix is if an opened bag of mix has been stored outdoors or on the ground where the grubs or the adults may have access. If you have to keep an opened bag for short period, make sure to put it in a shed and up off the ground and fold the top over securely.

EllaCourtney

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66847#Comment_66847

Thanks so much @Noelle for this advice (and @MitchellMc for the referral!) - I ducked up to bunnings this afternoon and got some eco-neem oil, so hoping I'll be able to decipher how to use it tomorrow. On the back it seemed to focus on just spraying the leaves, couldn't see any soil-drench instructions but i'll google it 🙂

And great tips on the curl grubs. I felt so invaded when I saw them! Will be doing my best to fend them off from now, cheers!

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/96230#Comment_96230

Hi @EllaCourtney,

The product is predominantly used for insects on leaves, so they are concentrating on that for the instructions. @Noelle has given some advice on her mixing method. I believe she was mentioning the concentrated version of Eco oil which you mix up with water so you can pour it through the potting soil.

Mitchell

paulcortes

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114708#Comment_114708

Hi there 🙂

Just wondering what does the eco oil drench do to the curl grub?

Plant-A-Holic

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66847#Comment_66847

Hi Noelle

Curl Grubs are as said very prolific and the damage if not caught early usually ends poorly for the plants. I agree with the excellent advice on dealing with Curl Grubs a rather ugly grub. I was told about Neem oil and has been a great benefit in getting rid of the Grubs. Thank you for your other advice I will certainly be rearranging my potting and similar items of the ground.

🙋🐨 Tricia

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125650#Comment_125650

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @paulcortest. We're so pleased to have you join us and look forward to reading about all your projects and plans for around the house and garden. Please don't hesitate to post anytime you need a hand as we're sure you will get plenty of helpful information, advice and inspiration from our amazing community members.

Let me tag @Noelle for you so she is alerted to your question about what the eco oil drench does to the curl grubs who have invaded a pot.

Thanks again for joining in the discussion.

Jason

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125650#Comment_125650

Hi Paul (@paulcortes)

Using eco Oil or Neem Oil will have the same effect. They both act as natural insecticides that kill insects (for example the beetles that lay the eggs that result in curl and other grubs) and their eggs, as well as suffocating the grubs. They are both oils that prevent the grubs from breathing, thus killing them.

Both products are environment friendly and will not harm plant roots or the soil/potting mix that you are treating.

Vicky2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66847#Comment_66847

I also have this problem with pots that I have raised of the ground and also pots that are hanging. I get so deflated as I use really good soil.

How do I stop them in my hanging pots?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/99126#Comment_99126

Hello @Vicky2

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you for joining the discussion.

I believe the consensus was to use Eco-Organic Garden 100ml Eco-Neem Concentrate. The other suggestion was to "bare root" the plant and completely change the soil. The larvae can still infest the soil and be totally undetectable. Our garden guru @Noelle has also recommended a "soil drench" of the root area with Neem oil.

There was also mention of protecting your bagged soil from getting contaminated and that was to store it in your shed with the bag being adequately sealed. Other than physically removing the grubs, these are the options available to you.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please don't hesitate to post them.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Sydgar22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132454#Comment_132454

Hi @Noelle ,

Thanks for your excellent input!

I came across this post and the community while researching the same annoying problem of curly bugs. I noticed them in a few of my pots while repotting and realized why they weren't happy.

Luckily I have recently bought eco oil but can you please advise how much I should be adding to water to do a pot drench? I cant really see an exact measurement for pots, mostly for spraying.

Thanks again!

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136871#Comment_136871

Hello @Sydgar22

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's a pleasure to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about curl grubs.

Sorry to hear you've got grubs in your potted plants. If you're using Eco-Organic Garden 100ml Eco-Neem Concentrate you'll see the mixing ratio at the back of the bottle. For potted plants, it says 10ml per litre of water. I suggest using a watering can if you're planning on doing a soil drench.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136871#Comment_136871

Hi @Sydgar22

EricL has included the label from Eco-Organic Garden 100ml Eco-Neem Concentrate in a post to you that gives the rates - I'd use 10ml per litre of water as per these instructions.

EricL

Hi @Sydgar22

My apologies for misreading the label. @Noelle's recommendation is spot on, it's 10ml per litre of water.

Eric

Sydgar22

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/18686#Comment_18686

Thanks @EricL and @Noelle

Doing it tomorrow 🙂

Nat2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139637#Comment_139637

Hi there,

I am having the same problem with curl grubs in my finger lime pot. I was going to use the eco-neem oil and do a soil drench but was concerned as the label said do not use on edibles / or plants that produce food for human consumption. Can you confirm that it is safe to do the soil drench on citrus? There are no fruit or flowers on my finger lime at the moment.
Thank you.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141607#Comment_141607

Hi @Nat2,

Eco-neem Oil is not approved for use on edibles at this time. It is only approved for use on ornamental plants.

I learnt a handy trick of how to remove them from pots. Fill a watering can with water and add a squirt of dishwashing detergent. Water the pot thoroughly with it, so the soil is saturated. Cover the top of the pot with a wet cloth. Overnight the curl grubs should come to the surface, and you can pick them off the following day and dispose of them.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

robchin

Hi @EllaCourtney - sorry to hear about your Curl grubs.

Some great info below which should solve your problem.

I did want to offer a general bit of advice on growing fruit trees. If you are planting any fruit trees it is a good idea, if you can bring yourself to do it, to remove the flowers and/or fruit for the first year or three. You don't have to remove all of them but if you do - the plant will put it's energy into growing more shoots and roots than into the flowers and fruiting. Too late for this plant this season but just something to file away for future reference.

Nat2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143004#Comment_143004

Thanks Mitchell.

I will give it a go and jet you know how it goes.

Nat2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143980#Comment_143980

Hi All,

I just wanted to give you an update on how I went with the soapy water soil drench. Unfortunately I had no curl grubs to remove the next day after peeling back the wet cloth. This may be because I had dug out quite a few (20) the day before I tried this method. Or possibly one watering can wasn’t enough as it is a very large pot (70cm dimeter). Either way I will keep an eye on the plant and try this method again in the future if I notice more grubs. For now my finger lime is starting to put out some new growth and flower buds after a very severe pruning a few months ago.
Thanks.

KatieC

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144741#Comment_144741

Hi @Nat2,

Thank you for the update about your curl grubs, it is great news you haven't seen any more come up. I'll tag @MitchellMc to notify him of your success. Amazing that your finger lime has new growth and the flowers are starting to bud! Would love to see a photo of it in full bloom.

Katie

JD2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143004#Comment_143004

Would it be safe to do that to a potted Japanese amaple

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/144136#Comment_144136

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @JD2. It's marvellous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about curl grubs.

There's been a bit of information shared in this thread. If you could please identify the advice you're enquiring about, I'd be happy to confirm whether it also applies to a Japanese maple.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Annette6

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66847#Comment_66847

I realise this is an old post but that is not how curl grubs get into pots, they are the larvae of beetles, the beetle lands on the pot, burrows into the potting mix and lays eggs

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/104421#Comment_104421

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Annette6. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for adding to the discussion.

Thanks for clarifying that for our members. I'd agree; that's the most likely scenario when encountering larvae in pots.

We look forward to hearing all about your projects and plans around the home and garden. Please feel free to reach out anytime you need assistance or have something to share with the community.

Mitchell

chelated

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/119293#Comment_119293

I agree with Annette and have observed quite a bit of misinformation going back and forth in this post, which is disappointing.
The community appears to want to

know to eradicate curl grubs from their pots. This includes the eggs and adults. The larvae were very unlikely to have crawled across the ground and into the OP’s cumquat pot. More likely, there were eggs in her potting mix that hatched after they potted up their tree.

If anyone is still battling with curl grubs, try applying Nematodes (not sold by Bunnings) in October. The larvae are feeding now (early Spring) but the soil is too cold for the nematodes so dig out what you can by hand and by all means try a neem oil drench, then anything left in the pot will be taken care of by the nematodes in October when your soil temperature is 16°c or higher. A quick google search will lead you in the right direction to order them. Watch out for the adult beetles in December wanting to lay eggs and perhaps add more Nematodes then. Get rid of any backyard solar lights which attract the beetles. Good luck!

robchin

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128976#Comment_128976

Great to see the sharing of information in this post. We can't be sure how the grubs got into the pot at this point and ultimately that doesn't matter once they are there. Trick here is to stop it happening again. Can I also suggest that you consider using an insecticide designed for this sort of thing. I work for Bunnings and we sell this one which is an Insecticide and has fertiliser as well: Multicrop 1L EcoGrub 3 In 1 Insecticide - Bunnings Australia

Good luck with your plants @EllaCourtney

rhondalee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134440#Comment_134440

Hello curl grub is destroying my wisteria in pots. When it is said to soil drench with eco oil , the pot is a large pot , so do I mix 10ml per litre of water and literally soak the entire pot

So for a 50litre pot use 10 litres of water to soak it ?
sorry I’m confused

I have done new soil , the came back 🙁

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/138480#Comment_138480

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @rhondalee. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about dealing with curl grubs.

Yes, that would be the correct method. You need enough water to saturate all the soil in the pot. You could probably get away with five litres, but ten will be better.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

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