Critters in my orchid medium - Orchid Board

jowben1 · #1 09-02-2009, 12:38 PM

I un-potted a dead orchid, to inspect the roots, and tons of tiny, fast moving bugs came scurrying out of the medium(bark mix). What are they, What to do? I promptly poured a Safer's soap mix over everything on that shelf, except some compots. Should I do the rest of the room? Is wettng the mix enough, or should I soak them? How about the compots?Thanks, in advance.

zxyqu · #2 09-02-2009, 02:07 PM

I'm not entirely sure on the pest, but if all these orchids are in close proximity, you should definitely decide to treat all the pots, not just a few. More than likely a bug like you're describing is likely to travel to untreated pots, and grow in numbers there. Hopefully someone can chime in about specific treatments for these little buggers...
Jarad

RosieC · #3 09-02-2009, 04:06 PM

Do they look like the ones in this link?

Royal Horticultural Society - Gardening Advice: Springtails

If so, they are spring tails which are harmless. Anything else and you need to treat with something like the soap. I would agree with Jarad that they are likely to travel between pots.

camille1585 · #4 09-03-2009, 07:20 AM

How old is the potting mix? If the mix is starting to get old and starting to decompose a bit, it's probably just insects that feed on the decaying matter and any dead roots. Most insects that are found in the mix are on no danger to plants except for a limited few. Can you try to describe the insects and their size?

Undergrounder · #5 09-03-2009, 10:53 AM

As Rosie and Camille suggest, the -tiny- bugs that seem to jump about when you disturb old mix are springtails, of which there are many kinds, none of which i know of do direct damage to the plant.

They might actually help by eating decaying plant matter that would otherwise be a temptation for mold and fungus.

I would see them as a sign that you need to replace the media because it's decaying, not as a threat in themselves. You also get them with plants grown in semi-hydroponics - they feed off the algae that grows in the media... very disconcerting to see them in their millions but apart from a few suspected cases of "meristem munch" in small seedlings, i haven't seen them do any direct damage.

Hedge · #6 09-03-2009, 06:16 PM

With my outdoor Cymbidiums the pots seem to attract woodlice - like many legged miniature armadillos which scurrry away when disturbed. They tend to be keen on the compost rather than the roots. Where have you been keeping your orchids?

jowben1 · #7 09-09-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedge

With my outdoor Cymbidiums the pots seem to attract woodlice - like many legged miniature armadillos which scurrry away when disturbed. They tend to be keen on the compost rather than the roots. Where have you been keeping your orchids?

I grow the plants in a screened in lanai,(eastern exposure), I don't think they were springtails, as they ran about rather than jumped. None of my bark is old, as I repot every new arrival, and most were aquired in the last 6 to 10 months. Everything over 1 year old has been repotted. Thanks all for the input.

RosieC · #8 09-09-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedge

With my outdoor Cymbidiums the pots seem to attract woodlice - like many legged miniature armadillos which scurrry away when disturbed. They tend to be keen on the compost rather than the roots. Where have you been keeping your orchids?

I havn't really grown any orchids outside yet, but you should see the woodlice in my compost heap. It is just FULL of them in all sizes from really really tiny to 1cm or so. When I lift off the lid there are loads clinging to that, and lots drop off when I put the lid on the floor.

At least they are nicer than the slugs which also infest the compost heap.