PLEASE HELP .. struggling with springtails or root pest

[blueberryshark]

Hey Forums, would love a bit of help. My issue is with these pests which I believe are springtails but im not entirely sure. I've found a few on my flood tray falling out of the bottom of my pots when flooded. Any help on killing these little monsters would be greatly appreciated

 

[RetroGrow]

They are harmless....

 

[Scrappy-doo]

Springtails are considered beneficial to plants so don't stress. I'd leave it be. But, if you just can't live with'em, crumple up some mosquito dunks into your top layer of soil then water it in and they'll be gone soon.

 

[Learning101]

I understand springtails are a beneficiary in an organic medium, but do you believe these are harmless in a straight coco coir medium? Do they start to eat roots if there is not any food present?

 

[ChasingGreen]

I understand springtails are a beneficiary in an organic medium, but do you believe these are harmless in a straight coco coir medium? Do they start to eat roots if there is not any food present?

I do not think so. They are Detritivores, so I don't think they eat living plant matter.

Detritivores, also known as detritophages, detritus feeders, detritus eaters, or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces)

 

[Mikell]

I'd still kill 'em It's not like you're growing ROLS.

 

[Scrappy-doo]

If you are only seeing a few here or there I wouldn't even worry. If you are infested I'd take a close look at your roots and medium. They can be a warning sign of a bigger problem. The only reason they are there is to clean up the garbage so a lot of them means a lot of food or in other words a lot of decaying roots or other decaying matter. If you reuse your soil or coco that would explain it. If not then something is causing your roots to die and rot and it's not springtails.

Remember they are the good guys helping to break down the bad stuff in your soil. So if you kill them you might want to consider adding enzymes or hygrozyme to break down the nasties and convert it into food your plant can use.

 

[blueberryshark]

thanks scrappy that makes total sense

 

[EastCoast710]

I just finished the best harvest ive ever had.. and had thousands of springtails that came in the canna coco . didn't do a fucking thing . if your having problems I doubt its springtails

 

[blueberryshark]

I also had the best harvest in my new garden they dont seem to effect the plant. at least visually i havent seen any ill effects

 

[Collembola]

i had loads of them around for years, but i let my compost dry out (i like to mix in old with new) between grows and now i really miss them,

they are coming back slowly i think (HOPEFULLY).

they are really good as they compost things down for you,

i think their poo bascially is a microbeneficial.

also they are funny when watering.

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i really like those little guys

 

[iboga]

springtails

springtails

I know everyone says don't worry there a good thing to have. I don't like anything crawling in my grow.... can anyone recommend a good exterminating technique or chemical to use ....

 

[iboga]

 

[doams]

I understand springtails are a beneficiary in an organic medium, but do you believe these are harmless in a straight coco coir medium? Do they start to eat roots if there is not any food present?

yes harmless they came in bb coco 50l bag they were already there wondering if they put them there on purpose..
got plenty of them each time in pure coco.. hey managed to survive bone dry coco but they are no problem to plants.

 

[doams]

I know everyone says don't worry there a good thing to have. I don't like anything crawling in my grow.... can anyone recommend a good exterminating technique or chemical to use ....

boil your coco in water maybe?

 

[HUGE]

dont use coco or soil if you dont want springtails