I’ve started noticing every time I water my monstera these tiny little white fellas start crawling around all over the place. They’re not in the leaves or anywhere else that I can find and only come out when watering. Any clue what they are?
they could be soil mites
1 gilla Are those a problem for the plant? How do they go away?
0 gillningar
Earlier I heard on this app that they show healthy soil but you better double check đź’š
0 gillningarYou can try a hydrogen peroxide/water mixture next time you water to try an eliminate them.
0 gillningar Is there a specific ratio?
0 gillningar
I’d say 2:1 water perioxide
2 gillningar
You can put full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide on plant roots and soil. A 1:1 ratio if you are being timid- but I use a spray bottle with just straight up 3% hydrogen peroxide that I spray right on the roots when I transplant or repot - particularly if there is any root rot or pests. And I’m talking monstera, alocasia, syngonium, calathia, snake plant, … everything. I always have a bottle in my plant kit for my indoor garden.
0 gillningar Ok I think I’ll give that a try. My monstera could stand a repotting anyway so I’ll take her out, give her a solid root cleaning and really get in there and spray
0 gillningar
This isn’t a mite, it’s a springtail, and springtails are extremely beneficial for soil. You can tell it is not a mite because mites are arachnids so have 8 legs and no antenna. This little guy has 6 legs and antenna. I would highly recommend you leave them.
2 gillningar PS having a good, strong springtail population will actually help out-compete pest bugs, especially fungus gnat larvae
3 gillningar PPS: in fact, I grow and keep springtail (and isopod) colonies to add to my terrariums. I may start putting them in my plants though to give them a good strong start. They will find their way into all soils eventually, but this would get them in there sooner. As a side note, most springtails would not survive in low-water plants. They like moisture which is why you see them come out to play when you water.
2 gillningar Oh goodness. Is there some more ways I can tell the difference between the two. It sounds like both can have 6 legs. Root aphids also have antenna but are “small” they don’t seem to be pear shaped which is supposed to be a root aphid shape?
0 gillningar Just did a little bit of research, as I have never seen root aphids before, but as you stated, they do seem to be more pear-shaped where springtails are more rice-shaped. Also, root aphids tend to be slower and stay more on the roots of the plants, and no matter where they live, put down a white fuzz-like substance. Springtails are very quick and actually get their names because they “spring”, or jump around sometimes (but not always). I do know the Mosquito Bits and other fungus gnat control products wouldn’t harm your springtails. I don’t think it is effective against root aphids, but maybe there is a natural alternative that attacks root aphids and not springtails? You could try beneficial nematodes: Steinernena feltiae supposedly will target root aphids and not springtails. As a bonus, it also targets fungus gnats and thrips.
0 gillningar Thanks for your insight! I think you were correct. I went ahead and repotted it since it’s spring and I’ve had it a couple years without repotting. I got a chance to get a really good look at the root system and they seemed totally fine! Maybe a tad overwatered 🫠but none of the white fuzz and no damage. I also didn’t see a single bug when doing the whole repot … not sure if they were just hiding well or what but they wouldn’t have all disappeared overnight. Either way at least at this point whatever it was had done no noticeable damage.
1 gilla