Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
Ok guys I’m doing an all organic grow. I throw my leaves into my soil when I clip them off. Well just out of curiosity I looked at one and found... BUGS!! What are these?!
URGENT!! HELP!
- Thread starter Raspberrykiwi
- Start date
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
They seem to be eating the dead plant material. Should I be worried?!
ColoradoHighGrower
Well-Known Member
Mites
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
What kind?? They seem to be eating the leaves in the pot. Should I remove these leaves?
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
They have green in the center of them.
ColoradoHighGrower
Well-Known Member
Hard to say though- post pictures of plants/leaves
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
The plants leaves are healthy green. No webbing or red specs on the leaves. Just was curious and looking.
One thing to note, the mites are see through and have green inside of them. The leaves in the pot seem to be getting decomposed by these little pests.
again I’m not seeing any damage to the plants. Making a quick food run, will take pics when I get home
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ColoradoHighGrower
Well-Known Member
Probably fine then- just tidy up and consider top-dressing with sand or diatomaceous
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
Just did some google research... these bugs are found in living soils.. I’m doing a 100% organic grow and even have clover in my soil growing. The mite in the pic is exactly what I’m seeing
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Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
This is the website. Decomposer mites??
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ColoradoHighGrower
Well-Known Member
I would assume the worste and declare war immediately if you suspect mites...
Edit: not sure about "good" mites.. if your plants start showing signs of them, I'd take action
Edit: not sure about "good" mites.. if your plants start showing signs of them, I'd take action
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
But these mites could be beneficial?? I might just roll with them unless I start seeing my leaves start being eaten. I’m hoping they’re good mights. They aren’t red whatsoever
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
Did more reading. These are soil mites and they seem to be highly beneficial for organic and living soil grows.
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
The leaves on the plant look fine... but the litter I added in the soil looks like it’s being broken down. I’m assuming it’s from the mites.. website says they break down the organic matter in the soil and return the nutrients back to the soil
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myke
Well-Known Member
Awesome !
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah I agree with you. I threw some of the leaves away but after reading.. I’m kind of glad they’re there lol. Now if I start seeing my leaves on my plant being eaten, then it’s war. Good thing veg isn’t over and I still plan on vegging for a few more weeks. From what I read, all soil has these boogers in them
PDiddyDank
Well-Known Member
So what mite do you think it is? I ask because you have predatory mites (like Stratiolaelaps scimitus) that feed on pests and then mites that feed on plant matter. Obviously the later wouldn’t be a good thing for us. You are seeing this mite eat plant matter, so it doesn’t sound like a beneficial..but what do I know, I’m not an entomologist (shrug).
BTW, stop putting dead plant mater in your pots. That a breeding ground for mold and pests..
Raspberrykiwi
Well-Known Member
I’m not sure what pest I have.. but it sounds like they live in the soil and eat the litter I put in there and return the nutrients back to the soil. What do I do moving forward?
PDiddyDank
Well-Known Member
Soil drench with Neem, surface spray with insecticidal soap and/or pyrethrin. If you can’t positively identify, my vote is to get rid of them. Risk vs reward here..very little difference one way, whole lotta downside the other way.