Friend or Foe?

R

Reapingwillow

New Member
Hey everyone, I’ve recently boughten a bag of fox farm ocean forest soil. I’ve made my routine transplants and noticed these buggers. They have definitely heavily populated the bag of soil. They seem to stay in and around the soil as far as I can tellI I just can’t identify what they are specifically. I have already gone and put DE on the soil surface as a precaution. Anyone any ideas? Thanks.

Mites

Soil Mites
 
Count the legs.... mites are 8 legged like ticks. Exception is the Hemp Russet Mite that has 4 and is microscopic.

Usually when insects are active in soil without plants or roots, they don't eat plants or roots.

Best thing with pests is maintain balance that is part of nature. Insects are part of it. The problems start when the balance is in favor of a pest. Growing indoors in containers the balance is in favor of pests that eat plants.

Why farmers that grow indoors/greenhouses use an IPM routine.

That all said, if you've ever composted you would notice many many insects in the composting material, most all are beneficial.
 
Back
Top Bottom