What are those little white critters doing in your weed plant and how did they get there? Are you wondering, “Are Springtails Good or Bad for Weed Plants?”
Are the flowering crops affected by an infestation for springtails? Is there anything you can do about it?
Should you let them live and allow them to feast of decayed plant matter? In this article, we’ll find out if springtails are good or bad for weed plants.
Are Springtails Good or Bad for Weed Plants?
Springtails may annoy you if you are growing weed plants or any other type of potted plant for that matter. The important factor to consider is that they are actually harmless and quite beneficial when it comes to getting rid of any fungus that can cause mold.
You may find springtails in the medium of the soil but they will be harmless towards your flowering crops. You could dry out the soil between watering if you want to reduce the number of springtails or get rid of them all together.
Any water that remains in the saucer or tray after watering potted plants can be removed before it gets sucked back in. This way we can dry out the soil in time for springtails to perish while flowering or harvesting will not be affected.
Are Springtails Beneficial to Weed Plants?
At first sight, you might get freaked out when you see springtails all over the medium of your soil. Springtails are actually going to help you out in terms of being able to feed on fungus and dead plant matter that get in the way of your crops.
They are beneficial and they will not harm any of your plants. Springtails need moisture to survive. If you want to get rid of excess springtails, let the soil dry further before you water it again.
Over drying the soil will cause more harm to your weed plant then springtails who actually not causing any harm whatsoever.
Are Springtails Good for Plants?
Yes. Springtails can be considered greatly helpful for plants when they have to break down plant material that is decayed. They will feed on it and excrete out their own waste to help improve the soil.
This way springtails have now become and welcomed members of the nutrient cycle that is going on within your plants.
The structure of the soil and its overall health can improve when decayed plant matter and fungus doesn’t turn into mold.
Are Springtails Harmful to Potted Plants?
Springtails are not harmful to potted plants. They will not seek to damage any stems, roots or flowers. Springtails can not cause any harm to your house.
The main reason why we would prefer to get rid of springtails is because it makes us feel a little gross inside to watch these little critters around our soil.
The best way to avoid an abundance of springtails is to reduce overwatering.
The more water you add to your potted plants, the more you increase the moisture in the soil that springtails thrive on. Most older, established plants are not harmed by springtails.
[youtube v=”cGIW7IHwnHg”]
Do Springtails Eat Plants?
Yes. Springtails eat decayed matter from plants, but they don’t actually eat healthy plants that are trying to grow and flower. Springtails are harmless when you consider them scavengers in the soil or at the top layer of it.
They’re looking for decaying organic matter or fungus. Springtails love to feed on mold. They also enjoy decayed plant matter. They chew on decayed roots and also the leaves of seedlings and never made it.
Anything wilted in your soil that can rot if springtails don’t come to the rescue and chew on them first. What springtails can excrete actually adds to the nutrient cycle of your plant to improve the health of the soil.
Are Springtails Bad for Living Soil?
We consider springtails to be a nuisance pest because of their sheer numbers and unwelcomed appearance. You can be freaked out or sad when you see hundreds or thousands of them kind of getting on the top of soil.
The fact is, they do not damage the plants and soil. They enjoy chewing on roots, but they will not inhibit the overall hardiness of the plant. This is because springtails don’t don’t do damage.
They don’t sting humans and they don’t harm plants that are in the process of growing. If anything, springtails are beneficial to the plants because they help fortify the soil with every munch and excretion that turns into healthy compost.
Your living soil has plenty of room for springtails because they’re helping to reduce the likelihood of any mold, fungus or bacterial growth.
Should I Get Rid of Springtails?
Do you want to get rid of a tiny Critter that doesn’t bite or harm your plants? If so, you can get rid of springtails in your house on your own without using any pesticides or professional services.
That’s because pesticides are not going to help when you have springtails appearing on the soil or substrate. Most likely you will not notice springtails walking around your house.
It’s important to determine whether or not you are looking at springtails or mites that can bite you. Springtails are harmless, they will disappear or reduce their numbers once you reduce moisture from the soil that they feed off.
Do Springtails Cause Damage to Weed Plants?
Springtails are not going to damage your weed plant. We may we may get an alarming feeling running through us when we realize that our flowering plants could be damaged or in harm’s way by what looks like a nuisance pest.
This is the wrong assumption however, because not only will springtails not harm your weed plants, they may actually help them altogether. This is due to the fact that they will consume any fungus or bacteria that could lead to mold outbreaks.
Countless occasions of mold outbreaks have become a nightmare to most people who have weed plants. You might have time to cultivate a plant or lose it to mold.
This is much worse than trying to deal with springtails who could easily be killed off if you dry the soil. If not drying the soil and risking the health of your weed plant is more important to you, then leave these little critters alone for now.
Can I Put Springtails in Houseplants?
Springtails feed off of the properties in compost. They do not wish to eat any of the healthy tissue that is contained on or within a plant. This is what makes springtails harmless for outdoor and indoor plant life.
Gardeners who try to remove springtails are fighting a losing battle in many cases. If you’re trying to keep the soil humid and healthy for moist growing conditions, then you’re also going to have to invite some springtails who will not cause any harm to your house plants.
What they will do is try and feed off of any decayed plant matter or fungus that shouldn’t be there in the first place.
How to Kill Springtails On Your Weed Plant
Do you want these springtails out of your weed plant? You can pay attention to the moist medium that you have underneath your weed plants.
- At this point you would like to let it dry out, but not enough for your plans to wilt. This will help reduce the number of springtails right away.
- Do not attempt to use pesticides because as they enjoy living in the soil, the pesticides will not be able to reach all of them and they will continue to breed.
- Vacuum the top of the medium and physically remove as many springtails as you wish. This would be even better than using pesticides.
- Drying up the medium is a careful task that you will perform alongside watering in ways that allows the water to soak through but not remain in the soil for too long.
- In about a week’s time you should be able to see that most of the springtails are pretty much gone.
- After the crop season has ended, it’s time to get rid of the medium all together and clean out the pots and trays.
- Make sure that the top two inches of your medium is dry before watering.
The steps above will help prevent springtails from coming back again.
Conclusion
For the health of your weed plants, do not be alarmed and risk drying out the soil to kill springtails. You can allow your weed plants to coexist when growing weed or any other potted plant.
They will not touch the flowering buds and will congregate where the spoil is warm, moist and full of decayed plant matter. Springtails may fight of mold outbreaks too. Give them another chance. They have good taste.
Thanks for visiting ThePestManagement.com for the best information to help you to make the pest control process easy, safe & affordable.
