FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Well what a coincidence after replying on some threads recently about pests.

I found i got far too many springtails (for my liking) in top layer of compost, and found mites living below the surface.
They look a bit bigger than red spider mites and there are none at all on the plants and the plants look healthy.

I decided because of the springtails to try some Neem Oil, sheesssssh my lounge smells like garlic bread (though not quite as nice) now haha.

I mixed it to about one teaspoon to a litre of water, tough to mix together i found.

What i cant fathom is why are the mites just living below the peat (not swarming with them i should add)
and not on the plants ?
Is there a mite that just lives in the peat ?

I have just put the Neem/water in the trays to absorb up.

It may be that the mites are feeding on the springtails, which live in the peat, so the best way to get em' is go under the peat

Mu cure for the problem is repot them.

We will see how this Neem oil goes, i read that it only affects sap sucking critters mainly and leaves other beneficial insects alone, is also good for fungi as well.

I hadnt read up on it fully till now, amazing stuff and organic, i thought it was a chemical everyone was endorsing.

victor wrote:Mu cure for the problem is repot them.

Id only do that as a last resort, if an obvious major attack on the plants, at the moment ill see how the Neem goes, as i say the plants look great.
i just happened to notice the mites and too many sprigtails when i moved a piece of peat the other day.

Thanks for your reply all the same Victor

Ive been reading that there are several species of mite that actually just live in compost/soil, i didnt think the ones in my case were the red ones, no webbing, plants healthy, no sign on plants even with magnifying glass.

I thought there was only the red spider mite as far as garden/plants went.
Anyway i suppose they might (possibly) be doing my plants roots anygood, so they can depart too with the springtails.

Yeah that could be a problem, if the go for the roots, one idea would be to put the in a jar with a bit of peat, and a some plant matter, if they eat it, kill em' if not, leave em' there, they'll be good food But in the other sense, the could be eating peat and pooing it out again, along with vitamins, which ould fertilix=ze your plants in a small small way, that could be why they look great

Try this recipe:

5ml neem oil
1-2ml soap
1litre warm water
whisk together and use immediately

The warm water and soap will help the oil mix with the water.

JimsPlants wrote:Try this recipe:

5ml neem oil
1-2ml soap
1litre warm water
whisk together and use immediately

The warm water and soap will help the oil mix with the water.

I never knew you could soap!