tiny black bugs come out after watering

[HItransplant]

after watering my plants i noticed a bunch of tiny bugs around the base of the pseudobulbs and on the exposed roots. The bugs are so small that details are difficult to see, but they are long and skinny and appear black. The following day, they appeared to be gone... im assuming that they are living in the medium. I found them on all my plants, some with heavier infestations than others. I dont really see any damage from them.

what am I dealing with here?
do I need to get rid of them?
if yes, how do I get rid of them?

[Zoi2]

It kind of sounds like you may have springtails. This link may be of interest to you.
G7363 Springtails | University of Missouri Extension
Joann

[RosieC]

If they are fast moving, come out when you water, are so tiny you can only just see them, then they are likely to be springtails.

Most pictures on the web are so magnified they are not recognisable as the tiny thing you can see IMHO. There used to be a good photo on the RHS site which while a close up actually looked like they do at the scale the eye can see them, however when they re-arranged the site it disappered.

Some of them also jump arround on the surface of the water (hence the name) but not all do. I have a white variety but they can also be black.

If that IS what they are then they are harmless to your plants. I have them in most of my chids in bark. However their presences in large numbers can be an indication that the medium is breaking down and it's time to replace it.

[HItransplant]

Originally Posted by RosieC

If they are fast moving, come out when you water, are so tiny you can only just see them, then they are likely to be springtails.

Most pictures on the web are so magnified they are not recognisable as the tiny thing you can see IMHO. There used to be a good photo on the RHS site which while a close up actually looked like they do at the scale the eye can see them, however when they re-arranged the site it disappered.

Some of them also jump arround on the surface of the water (hence the name) but not all do. I have a white variety but they can also be black.

If that IS what they are then they are harmless to your plants. I have them in most of my chids in bark. However their presences in large numbers can be an indication that the medium is breaking down and it's time to replace it.

im not sure they are fast moving.. however, relative to their size, they may be.

they do only come out when I water, and are long and skinny.. but really tiny.

strange thing is, the plants that seem to be most heavily populated, are the ones I just repotted.

thanks for the help, Ill keep my eyes on them, but so far, no apparent damage to the plants.