Last weird question- bioactive semi hydro, is it even possible, let alone worth it
 

Since the reservoir can contain pieces of detritus, there is possibly some decay. I know the flush is intended to clean all of this but if some does remain is there benefit from having springtails (innoculant is assumed) in the water.


Second. Given t he flushing, is it even possible that they would survive if flushed properly, would not they all get washed right out?

I just figured someone else may have tried it or given it some thought

If you never let the medium dry out, some microorganisms will remain alive. I don't know about springtails. I typically think of bacteri and fungi as beneficial microorganisms.

Edit - LAST weird question? Seriously?

Ok, you got me, I’ll have LOTS more weird questions

Biologically-active does not only mean springtails.

There are literally millions, if not billions of microbes living in the pot, in the media, and in the plants themselves.

If you "seed" them by using a plant probiotic, you might even get a population that is favorable to the plant!

I always see little white bugs jumping/crawling in water puddles underneath my jars when I pick them up. I use reflective metal baking trays under my pots so maybe that makes them more visible. I assume they are springtails.

Actually I just now went over to my shelf and poured some water out of the reservoir onto my trays and saw a few as well. I just flushed last night. I think they might be in your pots regardless of whether or not you inoculate but are too tiny to notice.

When I buy springtails for my vivariums they always come in a jar of wet charcoal pieces. You either dump the entire jar into the vivarium substrate or you can flood the jar with water and the bugs will float to the top. Using the second method you can pour the floaters into your tank and save the charcoal for further culturing as quite a few will be left behind. I imagine if they are small enough to live in the cracks and crevices of charcoal, they probably find a comfortable home in leca even when you flush

I have a springtail culture that i do just that with.

I have a 2 quart pickle jar that they reside in and i do the soak and flush to spread them around....

i add them to a lot of the plants that i keep really wet to inhibit mold and fungus.

What do you feed springtails in the culture?

I add 6-9 grains of rice every 2-4 weeks. They are really low maintenance lol