This is how you get rid of the animals

What are centipedes?

They are about 4 cm long, thin reptiles that stand out due to their large number of legs (up to 190 pieces). There are around 50 types of nimble predators in Germany. They eat soft-skinned animals, which they kill with the poison from the first pair of legs, and plant remains. Centipedes live in soft, moist soils and rarely get into the soil of indoor plants.

Centipedes as an uninvited guest in the flower pot

Many indoor plants are grateful if they can stand on the balcony or terrace in the warm summer months. However, it is then possible that various pests can be found in the Potting soil colonize, including centipedes.
As soon as the nimble reptile is sighted, countermeasures must be initiated. Although the centipedes are useful little animals in the garden (they eat old plant residues), they eat the indoor plants in the house and harm them.

Measures against centipedes in the flower pot

Various measures are more or less successful:

Put the flower pot under water in the bathtub

• Advantage: Centipedes come out of their hiding places and can be picked up
• Disadvantage: not every houseplant can withstand such a bath

Bug spray from the discounter

• Advantage: pests are killed
• Disadvantage: The potting soil and the entire area are poisoned for a short time. This can cause allergies in humans

cause, the poison also kills all useful animals in the soil.

Place glue traps between the flower pots

• Advantage: a scent reliably attracts the animals, they stick and perish
• Disadvantage: large specimens escape from the traps

Use of natural biocides, e.g. diatomaceous earth (powdered shells of fossil diatoms)

• Advantage: no harmful effects for humans or animals, the consistency of the powder kills the centipede

Preventing centipedes

Centipedes don't like drought. So keep the potting soil of your indoor plants relatively dry and only water when the top layer of soil has dried out. If the humidity in the room is too high, a dehumidifier can help.
Small packages with silica on the windowsill remove any moisture from the environment.