How do I get rid of springtails?

[scy]

Hi. I was watering my orchids yesterday and noticed my dendrobium lawesii has a springtail problem. When I soaked it in water, I saw a bunch of springtails scurrying up to the surface.

I read on First Rays website that soft bodied insects can be killed with rubbing alcohol. I sprayed the whole plant and the surface of the medium. It said to repeat it every 3 days for 2 weeks.

I am debating whether to throw the orchid away before it becomes an infestation. I have a big bug phobia. If I spray the whole plant and the surface of the medium, won't the springtails just return if they're hiding out in the medium?

I also read that they like decaying medium / roots and like moist areas. I only water once a week. I cut down watering to the point where the leaves are pleated. I have a skewer and it's dry before I water. I repotted in April with orchiata bark mix. The medium shouldn't be decaying. It might be the roots. I am afraid of repotting due to the cold temperatures and it might be the rest period (no active growth). Thanks for the input!

[Nepenthesis]

Springtails aren't actually that bad. They just break down decaying organic matter. It's probably an indicator that your medium is old and should be replaced. They also VERY much enjoy wet medium. Without water, they'll dry out super fast. If you think your orchid can handle it, let it dry out for as long as possible without causing damage. They also enjoy good air flow.

Just repot the orchid and see if that takes care of the problem. Maybe move it inside while repotting.

Another thought... Maybe try to lure them away from the orchid. If you have charcoal, fill a small container with it, fill it up half way with distilled water, then put either yeast on the surface. If there's direct access for them into that container, they may move themselves.

[Subrosa]

The land area of my riparium is crawling with them. Never had a problem with them, but it did give me the idea of planting some Pygmy Sundews to utilize the resource!

[Joseia]

I used Sucrashield, which I got from Ray, on a blooming phal loaded with springtails. I mixed up a solution according to the label, placed the phal in a large bowl and filled that bowl to the top so that all the media was submersed. I also used a sprayer to get all the little buggers that were trying to escape the water. Repeated again about a week later, haven't seen another one since. I am sure that phal has decaying media inside the center. The phal was the first orchid I bought and I repotted it when I had no idea what I was doing and isn't even in a good pot with good air circulation. I can't wait for it to drop it's flowers so I can repot it. I bet it is going to be a nasty, gooey mess in there.

The Sucrashield doses did not seem to affect the plant or the blooms. First flower popped in late October and the stalk is now almost 5 feet long, still growing and still putting out new blooms.

One more thing: I am certainly no expert, but I have been reading alot lately about maintaining a healthy environment in a vivarium. And springtails are seen as desirable in a terrarium to clean up the decaying organic matter, at least in vivariums for frogs. I think if I find springtails again, I will just leave them alone until I can repot and let these little guys clean up the rot.

[lepetitmartien]

Leave them alone is the thing to do.

But it really means you have to repot when possible…

[ALToronto]

I have two flasks' worth of phal seedlings growing in algae-covered sphagnum, crawling with springtails. The best growers have the biggest springtail colonies. Look them up on Wikipedia; the little guys are actually beneficial by breaking down fungus into usable food.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

I have two flasks' worth of phal seedlings growing in algae-covered sphagnum, crawling with springtails. The best growers have the biggest springtail colonies. Look them up on Wikipedia; the little guys are actually beneficial by breaking down fungus into usable food.

just DON'T read the wiki paragraph on their alleged relationship to humans ! LOL ( for your bug phobia )
I also have them and they are easy to "catch" with thumb and finger, especially since they seem to be hyper after I water. I feed them to my butterworts.