Mites?

phobos915

phobos915

Member
Hey guys, I have what looks like mites crawling in my soil, there not on the plants but all through my soil, im using miracle gro organic choice potting mix.. yeah, it is the worst soil to grow in, nothing but problems.. Anyway, what should I do?

P.S. I can't take a pic of them cause there way to small.

Thanks in advance.
 
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wiseguy316

Well-Known Member
are you sure they aren't nats? the best way to handle this will determine where your grow room is and you ventilation. if it is in the house, prolly need some neem oil, if it is a well ventilated area or garage get a no pest strip and they will all be gone in 2 days, put it in a ziplock bag and save it for future use.
 
thexception

thexception

Well-Known Member
yep, mg soil=fungas gnats. get some potatoes & lay cut slices on the top of the soil, check in about 12 hours. The larvae should come up & attach themselves to the slices, throw them out & repeat. Let ur plants get as dry as u can (gnats thrive in moist soil) & then ur next watering, use household peroxide, 10% to water ratio; repeat this for ur next 2 waterings. This solved my problem, & is harmless to ur plants/soil, hopefully this will help u.
 
Leothwyn

Leothwyn

Well-Known Member
Fungus gnat adults are little black flies (you'd see them flying around), and their larvae look like tiny white maggots with black spots on their heads. To me your description sounds more like soil lice: little white bugs (with legs, not like maggots) that will tend to be more active (come to the surface more) after a watering. If this is what you have, then you don't need to worry. They're actually good. They eat decaying matter in the soil, and don't hurt plants at all. BTW, they might not look exactly like the ones below. There are different types. But, look for something similar: white (could have a yellow or tan tint), six legs, antennae, crawl fairly fast (a lot faster than mites, at least).

 
W

wiseguy316

Well-Known Member
thexception said:
yep, mg soil=fungas gnats. get some potatoes & lay cut slices on the top of the soil, check in about 12 hours. The larvae should come up & attach themselves to the slices, throw them out & repeat. Let ur plants get as dry as u can (gnats thrive in moist soil) & then ur next watering, use household peroxide, 10% to water ratio; repeat this for ur next 2 waterings. This solved my problem, & is harmless to ur plants/soil, hopefully this will help u.
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he is using organic, the peroxide will kill the beneficial microbs in the soil. never heard of potato slices but i will sure try it.
 
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wiseguy316

Well-Known Member
H2O2 will kill all living organisms, good or bad, this might be beneficial in a sick plant. But, IMO it should not be used for insect control in an organic garden. Doesn't make it right or wrong just my opinion.
 
bunnyface

bunnyface

Well-Known Member
hey,, I think I know the bugs you talk of,,when the MG soil has been wet for a prolonged period these bugs appear,, what I did was put a small trough or tray(I used the fat tray off a G.Forman) with water in it,,and place it inbetween the pots and then allowed the pots to dry out ,almost too much, and the bugs launch themsleves into the water. Then or before drop one drop of bleach or anything like that in the water trough/tray and that kills the wee bugs,,that way you dont have to add somthing that going to kill the good stuff in that MG(there stuffs okay as long as you know how to use it). I grow in it and know the white bugs you talk of,,
So if your letting the soil dry out every moring give your plants a good misting/shower to keep them hydrated and as the soil drys out the bugs will die back.
Yeah also whats your watering routine????? as I found it was me that was watering to much and the worms seem to 'activate' in the soil,,so yeah let the soil dry up and they should start to die back.

Anyhow good luck and take it easy....
 
phobos915

phobos915

Member
bunnyface said:
hey,, I think I know the bugs you talk of,,when the MG soil has been wet for a prolonged period these bugs appear,, what I did was put a small trough or tray(I used the fat tray off a G.Forman) with water in it,,and place it inbetween the pots and then allowed the pots to dry out ,almost too much, and the bugs launch themsleves into the water. Then or before drop one drop of bleach or anything like that in the water trough/tray and that kills the wee bugs,,that way you dont have to add somthing that going to kill the good stuff in that MG(there stuffs okay as long as you know how to use it). I grow in it and know the white bugs you talk of,,
So if your letting the soil dry out every moring give your plants a good misting/shower to keep them hydrated and as the soil drys out the bugs will die back.
Yeah also whats your watering routine????? as I found it was me that was watering to much and the worms seem to 'activate' in the soil,,so yeah let the soil dry up and they should start to die back.

Anyhow good luck and take it easy....
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Hey Bunnyface. Its been a few days now without watering, about 4 days now. Their still around, an they seem not to bug the plant any bit at all. Plants are still growing and everything, I think ill just give em another water an see what happens. I did try to take a picture but my camera isn't good enough. There just really tiny things, white, size of a grain of sand, haha. Im sure if they were harmful, id see it in the plants by now. BTW, I water about every 4-5 days. If you know what bug im talking about and do know how to get rid of them, please let me know, I would like to get them outta there. Thanks, later guys.
 
Oldman13

Oldman13

Member
phobos915 said:
Hey guys, I have what looks like mites crawling in my soil, there not on the plants but all through my soil, im using miracle gro organic choice potting mix.. yeah, it is the worst soil to grow in, nothing but problems.. Anyway, what should I do?

P.S. I can't take a pic of them cause there way to small.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Jesus crisis 2011 what the fuck I so don't be such a take your freaking stuff down
 
Oldman13

Oldman13

Member
Oldman13 said:
Jesus crisis 2011 what the fuck I so don't be such a take your freaking stuff down
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Hula hula Booga Booga Boombah reply for eternity eternity I don't ever leave this area because you just where I have been posted I can not enter leave because I am a post I will be here in the year 30033 you must get the mostest out of your hostess I will haunt all of the future Generations to come, and then I will haunt there generations to come so on and so forth hahaha hahaha don't worry I will crawling through your ear find my way to your temporal lobe and I will control you like a vehicle you would be mine 2 do with as I please
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
Leothwyn said:
Fungus gnat adults are little black flies (you'd see them flying around), and their larvae look like tiny white maggots with black spots on their heads. To me your description sounds more like soil lice: little white bugs (with legs, not like maggots) that will tend to be more active (come to the surface more) after a watering. If this is what you have, then you don't need to worry. They're actually good. They eat decaying matter in the soil, and don't hurt plants at all. BTW, they might not look exactly like the ones below. There are different types. But, look for something similar: white (could have a yellow or tan tint), six legs, antennae, crawl fairly fast (a lot faster than mites, at least).

Click to expand...
Those look like springtails to me. And springtails are mostly beneficial.
 
B

Burton79

Well-Known Member
Leothwyn said:
Fungus gnat adults are little black flies (you'd see them flying around), and their larvae look like tiny white maggots with black spots on their heads. To me your description sounds more like soil lice: little white bugs (with legs, not like maggots) that will tend to be more active (come to the surface more) after a watering. If this is what you have, then you don't need to worry. They're actually good. They eat decaying matter in the soil, and don't hurt plants at all. BTW, they might not look exactly like the ones below. There are different types. But, look for something similar: white (could have a yellow or tan tint), six legs, antennae, crawl fairly fast (a lot faster than mites, at least).

Click to expand...

Over a decade later this post is still very helpful and showed up from a Google search. Gotta love the internet. Thank you.
 
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