table of contents
- Lifestyle habits
- water
- dryness
- Predatory mites
- Repot
- Avoid springtails
- frequently asked Questions
Springtails are always found in the ground and beneficial insects as they utilize dead plant matter. If springtails reproduce too much on house plants, you should fight the insects quickly.
In a nutshell
- Springtails are beneficial insects and only damage plants when they multiply in an explosive manner
- by submerging the root ball, the springtails float upwards
- Drought weakens the springtail population
- Predatory mites are an effective means of fighting springtails
- Always repot affected houseplants to be on the safe side
Lifestyle habits
Springtails are an important part of the cycle in nature because they break down organic material. By dismantling or When they decompose, they make nutrients available to the plants again. A small population of springtails in the pot of your houseplant therefore has a positive effect.
There are different types of springtails. Common native species are:
- Blind jumper (Onychiurus fimatus)
- Flowerpot springtail (Folsomia candida)
- Belted springtail (Orchesella cincta)
- Puffer (Sminthurus viridis)
Springtails only become a problem when they appear strongly. If there is no longer enough dead organic material, they also go to the roots and seedlings.
Tip: An increased occurrence of springtails can also be a warning sign of problems with plants. If, for example, there is too much water or excessive fertilization, the insects can multiply explosively.
water
Although springtails prefer a moist environment, you can naturally fight the insects with water. To do this, place the plant in a large bucket or tub and fill it with water up to above the substrate. Let the plant stand in the water for half an hour. Due to the lack of oxygen, the springtails come up and you can simply pour off the insects. Then let the excess water run off in the substrate. Do not water the plant in the near future. Depending on the severity of the infestation, you should also repot the plant.
Note: This procedure is only suitable for plants that can tolerate more moisture for a short time. For plants that prefer a dry substrate, you should choose other gentle means.
dryness
Since the springtails feel comfortable in a moist substrate, you can fight the insects naturally by significantly reducing the amount of watering. However, it takes longer for the root ball to dry enough to reduce the number of springtails. As a result, this gentle means is only useful if the population is not yet excessively large.
Predatory mites
Predatory mites are one method of controlling many pests naturally. Not only do they attack springtails, but also sciarid gnats. Predatory mites are particularly useful when you cannot clearly identify the type of insect. You can get predatory mites in specialist shops as a natural means of combating pests.
As a rule, the following types are offered:
- Hypoaspis miles
- Hypoaspis aculeifer
Predatory mites have the advantage that they can decimate the population within a short period of time. If they don't find any more insects, they die or look for other food sources in neighboring pots.
Repot
Predatory mites can be a sign of care errors, so it makes sense to repot the plants quickly if they become more prevalent. By changing the substrate you will get rid of a large part of the springtails on house plants.
Instructions for repotting:
- Carefully lift the plant out
- Remove as much of the substrate as possible
- Check the root area for damage
- If necessary, cut back damaged roots
- Wash the pot and saucer with hot water
- Fill the pot with fresh substrate
- Insert the plant
Note: After repotting, do not fertilize for at least three weeks and do not water until a few days after planting.
If the affected plant is hydroponic, you should completely remove the substrate and wash off the root area. Here, too, clean the pot and completely replace the granules.
Avoid springtails
There are several reasons why springtails can be found in the substrate of your indoor plants. The most common reasons are too moist a substrate or excessive fertilization. Especially shortly after repotting, the mistake of watering too much or fertilizing too early is made. After repotting, water only moderately. This promotes root formation and you prevent harmful insects from finding a breeding ground. Fresh substrate is usually already rich in nutrients and you do not need to fertilize until three weeks after transplanting. When watering and fertilizing, always take into account the individual nutrient consumption of the plants. With some species you may not have to fertilize at all after repotting.
Sometimes there are already a lot of springtails in the substrate. Always allow the substrate to dry out completely before use, as this will also kill the insects.
frequently asked Questions
If your houseplants are outside in summer, you should also regularly check for springtails. In the field, the risk is greater that the insects will settle in the pot and find an ideal environment in it to multiply quickly due to frequent rainfall and dammed water, for example.
The population depends on many factors. Around 400,000 springtails per square meter can live in a humus-rich substrate.
As soon as the springtails begin to show more on the surface, the population has become too large. In this case, you should first check what it looks like in the root area and, if necessary, immediately use gentle means to combat it.
