red mites in supersoil

kommano

Active Member
Yes I'm new to growing but I've had year + of research. I got some red composting worms and found out the bastards lied about having mites. I was reading that the red mites in there might be beneficial? Please help seeing my 3 45lb bins of supersoil like this doesn't make me happy
 

hyroot

Well-Known Member
they are predatory mites. They eat organic material and other bugs. They die off when their food source is gone. They don't harm plants . I have them in my worm bin and in soil bins. People actually buy them for pest control.
 

kommano

Active Member
they are predatory mites. They eat organic material and other bugs. They die off when their food source is gone. They don't harm plants . I have them in my worm bin and in soil bins. People actually buy them for pest control.
I also read that they could be the mites possibly sucking the blood from the worms. The only thing I've found was freeze it (will kill my ewc) bake it at 180 little by little because I also have gnats from roots but I manage those easy.
 

hyroot

Well-Known Member
topdress plants with compost / castings and gnats will be gone in a week.

worms are 90% water. I doubt the p mites are sucking any blood. Mine have coexisted for a long time. Getting too hot or too cold or too wet can kill off worms.though.
 

kommano

Active Member
topdress plants with compost / castings and gnats will be gone in a week.

worms are 90% water. I doubt the p mites are sucking any blood. Mine have coexisted for a long time. Getting too hot or too cold or too wet can kill off worms.though.
That's one of the problems it doesn't take long for them to get drained. I have read mixed things. I decided to put garlic cloves a bit under the dirt with potato peels on top of a paper plate still touching the soil. I know they probably won't hurt my plants but honestly this is soo annoying lol. But organics isn't supposed to be easy. I appreciate all the help that you guys have provided also.
 

vostok

Well-Known Member
Yes I'm new to growing but I've had year + of research. I got some red composting worms and found out the bastards lied about having mites. I was reading that the red mites in there might be beneficial? Please help seeing my 3 45lb bins of supersoil like this doesn't make me happy
Its all about the size of your testicles
if you have unruly large even swollen ones
then you may avoid any of the above remarks

if like me, see yourself as average
then any bugs good or bad should be seen as a threat
and adopt the Rambo idea(small testicles)
..if in doubt kill!
add a large volume of Neem Meal(oil)
to your soils allow to amend (2-16 weeks)
neem is an organic bug and mold killer
that I've used for everything for years

...its great for growers with large and small balls even good for pubic lice too
 

kommano

Active Member
Its all about the size of your testicles
if you have unruly large even swollen ones
then you may avoid any of the above remarks

if like me, see yourself as average
then any bugs good or bad should be seen as a threat
and adopt the Rambo idea(small testicles)
..if in doubt kill!
add a large volume of Neem Meal(oil)
to your soils allow to amend (2-16 weeks)
neem is an organic bug and mold killer
that I've used for everything for years

...its great for growers with large and small balls even good for pubic lice too
I was thinking about neem oil but I just didn't have the patience for it ugh. What ratio do you use per gallon? If I'm correct neem oil won't effect my worms?
 

vostok

Well-Known Member
Neem Oil ...or meal should just about kill everything,
that said it hasn't killed any of my worms
and yes I've been trying..
I aim for a total of 10% of my soil bin to be amended with Neem
often a lot more
even now that Neem Oil/meal is proven systemic
 

vostok

Well-Known Member
I'm also growing nasturtium and chives to protect against stuff like this. :D
are you nuts like me at eat those nasturtium flowers ....lol the neighbors my way freaked, I told her the Dutch eat them ...so can we ....lol
 

kommano

Active Member
are you nuts like me at eat those nasturtium flowers ....lol the neighbors my way freaked, I told her the Dutch eat them ...so can we ....lol
Ohh yes haha but mostly just in the spring/summer when I have alot of them. I'm a bodybuilder/strongman tho so I eat almost anything lol.
 

docter

Well-Known Member
Its all about the size of your testicles
if you have unruly large even swollen ones
then you may avoid any of the above remarks

if like me, see yourself as average
then any bugs good or bad should be seen as a threat
and adopt the Rambo idea(small testicles)
..if in doubt kill!
add a large volume of Neem Meal(oil)
to your soils allow to amend (2-16 weeks)
neem is an organic bug and mold killer
that I've used for everything for years

...its great for growers with large and small balls even good for pubic lice too
You told me you only have 1 testicle.
 

Kind Sir

Well-Known Member
they are predatory mites. They eat organic material and other bugs. They die off when their food source is gone. They don't harm plants . I have them in my worm bin and in soil bins. People actually buy them for pest control.
Hey man, I barely put food in my worm bin(only bananas, strawberries usually after thawing) and I recently seen a couple black bugs I cant find online but they seem ok. I now just found out I also have these red mites, they look like they are beneficial somewhat (as you just stated) but wanted to see what you have to say.

I didnt look everywhere, but they seem concentrated on an old banana I put in there. I sprayed a little captain jacks dead bug,Idk if thats right or wrong but thought id mention it. I dont like these bugs!!
 

hyroot

Well-Known Member
Hey man, I barely put food in my worm bin(only bananas, strawberries usually after thawing) and I recently seen a couple black bugs I cant find online but they seem ok. I now just found out I also have these red mites, they look like they are beneficial somewhat (as you just stated) but wanted to see what you have to say.

I didnt look everywhere, but they seem concentrated on an old banana I put in there. I sprayed a little captain jacks dead bug,Idk if thats right or wrong but thought id mention it. I dont like these bugs!!

I'd have to see a pic. Bad bugs and good bugs can get into a bin.
 

kommano

Active Member
Old thread lol. They are just composting mites, I got mine from my composting worms. As long as they don't compete with your worms or you get over run by them you don't have to worry. Never use any kind of fruit if you don't know where it comes from, you'll be asking for all sorts of problems. Don't even do organic fruit, most listed organic are just gmo seeds that follow as close to regulation as possible and in turn could kill or slow down your microbiol life.
 

Kind Sir

Well-Known Member
Old thread lol. They are just composting mites, I got mine from my composting worms. As long as they don't compete with your worms or you get over run by them you don't have to worry. Never use any kind of fruit if you don't know where it comes from, you'll be asking for all sorts of problems. Don't even do organic fruit, most listed organic are just gmo seeds that follow as close to regulation as possible and in turn could kill or slow down your microbiol life.

Wow Ive learned alot about organics recently. Youre saying that I shouldnt use fruit in my worm bin from grocery store even if I freeze it?

My bin is just a 27gal tote and honestly no holes at the bottom as I heard both sides and decided not too. I dont add much food at all, but Im thinking about adding holes/or just using a big fabric pot (Id love a flow through "bin") instead.

All I know is I was 5thinking about the bugs all night. I used barley straw mulch for a few plants, and found springtails under the mulch. Opinions?
 

Crab Pot

Well-Known Member
Red mites are beneficial... They're an important part of a healthy, fuctionong eco-system. You can find them for sale as beneficial insects. I have lots of them in my pots. Every time I see one it makes me feel good about the health of my soil similar to seeing a worm pop his head out from underneath the mulch. I don't understand all this talk about nuking them..
 
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