springtails.

[charface]

I have them and Im gonna take that as a compliment. Thousands upon thousands
it looks like.
The plant is healthy and I Usually let my pots dry out pretty well.
I have heard they eat fungi which is the only thing that concerns me a tad.
That shit is spendy.

Do I need to rid myself of them?

**H@Ck ALLeRt**
Any info I give is based on what I would be comfortable doing.
Please get other opinions.

In nature plants don't live in plastic buckets but at my house they do or they get the f**k out.

 

[Nullis]

Springtails (Collembola) includes hundreds of species of hexapod-arthropods which are not considered to be insects. They feed on a variety of food sources but are primarily considered to be detritivores or microbivores; subsisting on detritus (dead, decaying vegetation), bacteria, fungi, pollen. Many prefer an environment which is moist\humid, this can increase populations.

Other soil food web organisms will also attack springtails and control populations. There are a variety of predator mites (i.e. Hypoaspis) which are sold as biological control agents, and some which are common enough that they can sometimes find a way into your pots naturally, or come along with bagged compost or earthworm castings.

First I would suggest cleaning up the grow area the best you can. This would include removing any dead\dying vegetation, fallen leaves, etc. Vacuum, clean the space thoroughly if possible. Clean whatever trays or receptacles you keep the actual pots in for drainage (Organic matter will build up on surfaces over time).
Then check what the humidity of your grow space is typically, lower if necessary with DampRid (for small spaces). Check your watering practices, consider watering from the bottom when necessary for a little while, or watering still less frequently.

You could also look into bio controls like the predator mites. These are good to have because not only do they attack a variety of soil-dwelling pests of multiple life-stages, but in doing so are also contributing additional benefits to the soil by aerating it, shredding organic matter to open it up for microbial decay and ultimately turning the pests into plant food.

 

[charface]

Thank you for that.
I just recently top dressed with left over
products just rid myself of mostly
empty bags. Sounds like one of the bags
could have been the source.

I have done a pretty good job this time
with watering. I usually have gnats
but not on this run so I think im making progress.

If you happen to read this
maybe you can recomend adding nemotoads or not.

I can get them at the nursery but not sure
if adding them would be overkill.

I think I read that they are already present
but if adding would help I will try.

Thanks again.




**H@Ck ALLeRt**
Any info I give is based on what I would be comfortable doing.
Please get other opinions.

In nature plants don't live in plastic buckets but at my house they do or they get the f**k out.

 

[Silky Shagsalot]

springtails are actually a beneficial critter. they're fairly easy to get rid of, but why not just keep them, and let them do their work? a couple doses of h2o2 will take care of spring tails if you just can't stand them. but keep in mind, you'll have to re-apply any bennies you have in your medium. h2o2 will kill all bennies in your medium.

 

[charface]

Its one of those things where people disagree.
I prefer to not get rid of them
if they are truley assisting in the breakdown of organic matter.
Its a little confusing as one page you look
at recomends methods of ridding them
while others say they are bennies.

I think I will leave them unless a problem
shows itself this run.
Im about 4 weeks in so it will be a good
way to judge the harm done.

Of course I'm open to new info
in the meantime.


**H@Ck ALLeRt**
Any info I give is based on what I would be comfortable doing.
Please get other opinions.

In nature plants don't live in plastic buckets but at my house they do or they get the f**k out.

 

[Cedrus]

I don't mess with the springtails ever. They're just a part of the big nutrient cycling system in the soil. And yes they might be eating fungi and bacteria in your soil but those microbes (even fungi) are very beneficial to plants. Not all fungi are molds or parasitic organisms. I think it's really just up to the grower. Some people like a totally neat, clean, and sytematic grow room free of any insects while others like an outdoor raised bed that's full of creepy crawlies and decomposing mulch.
In my opinion it's just easier to leave the bugs alone. Often times they're the ones that keep bad ones from showing up. For instance, I never remove spiders unless they're on or near the buds. One spider web will collect hundreds of gnats over the grow season!

 

[foreverflyhi]

I use spring tails for my vivarium, dart frog preys on them every now and then, not a problem in organic grows.

 

[undercovergrow]

what were your results regarding the springtails? beneficial or not? did you remove them from your garden or keep them? thanks!

 

[charface]

I left them and I have not noticed benefit
or liabilities.

I still only see them when I water.

I guess the benefit is I invested 0 time
or money batteling them.

Anyway you know what I mean.

 

[undercovergrow]

thanks for the reply charface! i just discovered them and i'll admit i'm freaked out by them...still unsure as to what i'll decide to do, but thank you again for replying!

 

[charface]

No problem.
At first they were too tiny to really see what they were doing.
But now there is a mixture of big and small so when I water I can see them
fling themselves right from the water surface.

 

[undercovergrow]

well, THAT response has totally helped me decide on what to do! if they're gonna get bigger, they're gonna need to die. thanks, charface!

 

[FilthyFletch]

Yeah Im not a fan of these guys. I got them first time last year I grow only hydro non organic in tap water so not sure where they came from but I have millions. Almost impossible to kill. i tried H202, I tried few pestacides and other home remedies I saw. I drained system steamed buckets and hydroton cleaned res let all dry out ran new run 3 weeks later back again. They dont seem to hurt things or help but they just look like tiny lice or magets in the water very tiny. I just hate seeing them but cant stop them in anyway.

 

[Silky Shagsalot]

i was told by a garden shop person in oregon, that these guys have been around for eons...

 

[charface]

Im just afraid getting tid of them will do more harm than good.
Plus I like bugs.

 

[Jack Harer]

I'm with Charface, Nullis and the rest who say keep 'em. I'm told that they're considered a "beneficial", and I've never noticed any adverse effects the times I've had them. Fungus gnats are FAR worse in my book. And I reall never saw any damage from THEM,​ other than breathing 'em in & there being gnats in all my bud once. I had 'em BAD that crop!!!

 

[undercovergrow]

ok i have been researching ALL morning long and the lack of information out there on how to kill these buggers is unreal.
this morning, i put a really infested air-pot plant in a large bucket of water to water from the bottom, only to notice that from disturbing the dirt a little, springtails ended up in the water in the bucket. i pulled the plant out and a drop of dawn dish soap scattered everything and killed the ones in the water in the bucket immediately. put a small amount of it in one gallon (less than one teaspoon) of water and watered all my plants on top with it. it reduced the number of them in all of the plants except one that was in veg...the springtails in that plant asked for more--so i gave it to them...and then, in anger, killed it. it was a kosher kush. i know, i'm bad and will one day be sorry. she was sickly and i am assuming the infestation started with her.
not all of my plants are as infested as she was...some are borderline-maybe not at all, and some definitely have springtails happily residing in the dirt. i really do not mind them being in there in small numbers, but i can't handle the large numbers being all jumpy. i used to enjoy sitting in there with my girls, and now i can't stand to be in there without itching all over. eventually, if i can't get them under control, i'll shut down the whole thing. it is bothering me that bad. if the population is noticeably reduced, i'll agree with you experts here and try to learn to live with a SMALL amount of them...but not this infestation level...

 

[charface]

Lol. I had already forgotten about this again.
maybe you could water so they float
then bliw torch them.

 

[undercovergrow]

well, at least you got another LOL out of it. i will win this!

 

[st0wandgrow]

well, at least you got another LOL out of it. i will win this!

Have you considered vacuuming them up? I know it sounds silly, but it works great for most hopping/flying pests in our gardens. You won't eliminate them doing this, but you might keep the adult population in check.