HELP!!! BUGS after compost tea

FRICKITYFRICKTYFRESH

FRICKITYFRICKTYFRESH

Well-Known Member
hey guys total noob here, so i fed my plants a compost tea 3 days ago just consisting of organic worm casting and molasses and 1 tablespoon of earth dust boost. Today when i watered, i noticed thousands of these white little bugs coming out of the soil when i watered. I haven't seen a single bug in this grow the entire time until now. im assuming the tea has something to do with it. As soon as the water receded they went straight back into the soil. they dont seem to be bothering the plants at all. please please tell me these are beneficial and arnt going to fuck my entire grow up. im bout to cry. I tried taking a video, but i dont know how to upload it on here.
 
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chernobe

Well-Known Member
I wonder if they were attracted to the soil from the sugar in the molasses? Maybe a layer of diatomaceous earth on top will help to kill them off. Would take a day or two because they have to go thru the powder but it might be a quick fix. Try going easy on the molasses or skip entirely next watering or two and see if it helps along with some DE
 
FRICKITYFRICKTYFRESH

FRICKITYFRICKTYFRESH

Well-Known Member
chernobe said:
I wonder if they were attracted to the soil from the sugar in the molasses? Maybe a layer of diatomaceous earth on top will help to kill them off. Would take a day or two because they have to go thru the powder but it might be a quick fix. Try going easy on the molasses or skip entirely next watering or two and see if it helps along with some DE
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As long as they are confirmed to be beneficial, im not too worried about killing them off. I just dont understand how they appeared from nowhere. All my plants are in a well ventilated, low humidity 4x4. I kept a lid over my tea when brewing and there was no signs of bugs when i strained my tea though some cheese cloth.
 
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loco41

Well-Known Member
FRICKITYFRICKTYFRESH said:
been doing some research and they seem to be springtails? Look identical to whats in my soil.
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I had an explosion of spring tails in my worm bins when I started adding compost from my outdoor pile in greater quantities. They have since transferred to every container I have used since then and I have not seen any issues since their arrival. I like to think of it as just added diversity to the biology of the soil.

Not sure how they got introduced for you, but I would welcome them as another organic material decomposer to the mix. I bet the compost tea just stirred them up and put them in a breeding/feeding frenzy. They are not the most pleasant sight, but the bi product of their work should add just another element to the soil. Also, I like to think it would make things that much more complicated for the dangerous pests to get into the web and really take hold as well.

Just my thoughts, but hope all is well in your world sir.
 
FRICKITYFRICKTYFRESH

FRICKITYFRICKTYFRESH

Well-Known Member
loco41 said:
I had an explosion of spring tails in my worm bins when I started adding compost from my outdoor pile in greater quantities. They have since transferred to every container I have used since then and I have not seen any issues since their arrival. I like to think of it as just added diversity to the biology of the soil.

Not sure how they got introduced for you, but I would welcome them as another organic material decomposer to the mix. I bet the compost tea just stirred them up and put them in a breeding/feeding frenzy. They are not the most pleasant sight, but the bi product of their work should add just another element to the soil. Also, I like to think it would make things that much more complicated for the dangerous pests to get into the web and really take hold as well.

Just my thoughts, but hope all is well in your world sir.
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I bought a bag of organic worm casting at my local garden center. I topdressed all my plants a day before i gave them the tea, so im assuming they had to of came from the castings.
 
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Northwood

Well-Known Member
Budzbuddha said:
Don’t kill them .... they are beneficial soil mites .... it’s a good thing.
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They aren't mites, but their larvae are a food for Hypoaspis miles mites which you need to feed to keep an active healthy population. The springtails eat dead organic material and fungi, so they're the "cleaners" for your soil. They're an important part of your nutrient recycling regime IMO.
 
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chakup

Well-Known Member
Yep after a couple applications of compost and vermicompost teas my springtails have gone nuts. The pot that's busiest with them is my happiest plant so not upset.
 
calvin.m16

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
I do not see any bugs in your pictures but they could be gnats. I would avoid organics if your trying to not have bugs and use mineral based nutrients in a substrate such as Coco Coir.. I quit using Soils and poo type compost additives and never have had bugs other than occasional gnats that are the same ones that will fly around your bananas in the kitchen..

p.s Gnats aren't going to hurt your plants for the most part. If anything they will attract predators that you want in the garden. I suggest sealing off your grow and filtering the air in & out without any cracks. Personally I had to frame in my room and seal it real good with latex paint before I was able to abolish bugs/mold etc.. That and sticking to 1 set of genetics for as long as I can..

The major thing I have learned is just keep your air VERY CLEAN (Carbon Scrubbers aren't enough, you need some form of HEPA filtration in your grow) and LOTS of fans indirectly blowing around the plants. Never blast your plants directly with heavy wind if possible but having a tsunami jetstream underneath from a cannon fan is no biggie just keeps the canopy fresh and bug free.

You might want to look into inorganic gardening.
 
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SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Yes springtails are very beneficial. Think of it as your personal army of living insect frass. I like to see pill bugs, springtails, roe beetles and soil mites as much as possible. The only problem with rove beetles is sometimes they get stuck on a sticky bud.
 
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loco41

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
Yes springtails are very beneficial. Think of it as your personal army of living insect frass. I like to see pill bugs, springtails, roe beetles and soil mites as much as possible. The only problem with rove beetles is sometimes they get stuck on a sticky bud.
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I love my spring tails. They came in with some outdoor compost I put in my worm bins and have been present since. They thrive in the bins and I notice things breakdown a bit faster in there now, especially shells and skins of the scraps. The worms seems happy as well so figure everything is just a bit more well rounded.
 
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