Springtails infestation!

[Waira]

...OK, this is just a wild guess, but if you want to try to cull the numbers down, I'm wondering if mosquito granules may help..? Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) strains are pretty species specific, one for catrpillar, the other for 'squito's, which gnats are close relatives too,.. this bacteria is ingested, which sickens and kills them,... Google springtails for images!

 

[Waira]

..oops! Anyway, it's a gamble to try and see if this affects springtails the same way,.. I'm not betting on it, but no harm in trying,.. sure kick some gnat ass, which are often relentless!... I'd make a "tea", with granules in some water, with a little molasses and nutes in there,...mix it up, let it sit for a day, and water in,.. aerate if you can, or a shallower type pan can be used (I have a small drywall bucket, low and wide).....more O2 is better!

 

[babethPOWERS]

since I moved to coco and perlite only I have had no gnat problems , best thing I ever did lol
now I'm wondering if there's a bacteria that'll kill those guys just like the mosquitos

 

[Ribbzzy]

I had 'em once, I didn't really care too much. From what I've read, they only eat dead matter, their waste is fairly benecificial. They airate the soil with their little tunnels. If I thought there were too many, when I watered, I'd wait for them to pool in groups as the water receded, and just kill 'em with my finger, it was quite effective at keeping the numbers manageable

 

[Rev. Green Genes]

If they are covering the floor of the tent to the point that you cannot make out individuals, you have a problem. I would start with vacuuming them up and spreading diatomaceous earth powders all around the tent floor Getting them to manageable levels is really the goal. If you have a healthy bio-community in the soil that is. You can also add predatory nematodes. I can get them on amazon in what is like a tea bag that is good for 3 gallons of soil for a couple dollars each. I think the kit was 12$ and had 8 bags.

 

[Kya Knight]

Anyone try freezing their soil to deal with these? I think they are messing with the seeds i am planting. I might flood my containers with the seeds for a period of time to protect them.

 

[Eyes on Fire]

dont freeze your soil.Been there done that a few times.Doesnt help the awesome of your grows ime.

when you see them on the sides of your containers it usually means they are hurting for air,as your soil might be. So that also an indicator of maybe needs a mix.moisture check too usually.I just wipe my hands around the sides and start mixing soil.LOL Never had an issue.had some pretty life popping soil in my time and never any real issues.So until theres an issue,why make it an issue.?just posing the question,sorry.lol

 

[Kya Knight]

@Eyes on Fire they are sucking the life out of seedlings and they taper off and die, im 99% sure its thier fault. It seems like vinegar kills them. Somehow i have two pots of soil i want to use that have too many springtails in them for a seed to start growing.

 

[Eyes on Fire]

well I have had these guys a lot in my garden and soils.never even caused an issue.sooooooo,not sure man. They would be crawling all over the edges of your pot if they were that bad.Let it dry out,like a lot.they dont like dry and hit them with a simple SNS product.easy peezy man. but I think its something else.Pics tell a lot