---
title: "I have a pothos in semi hydro with LECA and I saw these small bugs…"
description: "I have a pothos in semi hydro with LECA and I saw these small bugs crawling around near the water. Rinsed the bottom container out last night but they’re back…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/PybhB26CmoprnACAYdI0HJ"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "AbbyJ"
published: "2026-08-31T14:49:43.936911Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/XEN68mjzFqo-yc5QTGuVSmiwxbFPmFroWDoqWNTi-EE/5L6KpVOxSfeJxiYNJ6JhFg.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# I have a pothos in semi hydro with LECA and I saw these small bugs…

_Posted by AbbyJ on 2026-08-31_

I have a pothos in semi hydro with LECA and I saw these small bugs crawling around near the water. Rinsed the bottom container out last night but they’re back this morning. I think I may have thrips on some of my other plants, but not sure if these are also thrips?? I thought thrips only lived in the foliage, so I’m confused as to how they could be all the way down in the container like this. Or maybe it’s a different type of pest?? Please advise!  
Also this plant is under a grow light in a greenhouse IKEA cabinet for 12 hours per day

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/XEN68mjzFqo-yc5QTGuVSmiwxbFPmFroWDoqWNTi-EE/5L6KpVOxSfeJxiYNJ6JhFg.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/XEN68mjzFqo-yc5QTGuVSmiwxbFPmFroWDoqWNTi-EE/m-r8HX3mSFiKqUh9voYGpw.webp?size=large)

## 4 comments

### JR commented on 2026-08-31

Looks more like thrips to me.  
Another way I heard to tell them apart is that fungus gnats fly away while thrips tend to stay put even when you get pretty close to them

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/tqz4EBDAvg8yEMwduoUZK1E9eWZadl-WaWJ0AB72hxk/zbx9BLjKTyGhytsZItCwog.webp?size=large)

#### AbbyJ replied on 2026-08-31

Thanks. Do you have any recs on how to treat them? I’ve never had to treat a pest in semi hydro

#### JR replied on 2026-08-31

I don’t know about semi hydro.  
I use isopropyl alcohol but I know that shouldn’t get in the roots

### jlsKenzy commented on 2026-08-31

I had thrips on a dieffenbachia that was in leca. I took it out of the leca, and used insecticidal soap on the leaves. I placed it in a jar with water, instead of returning it leca, it was easier to repeat the treatment for a few weeks. Before placing it back in the leca set-up, I rinsed and boiled the leca.

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_