Bringing plants in for winter

[Petalsofsugar]

I am about to start bringing in my plants to get them adjusted to house life for the winter. I don't want any hitch hickers so I have some insectecidal (sp?) soap I want to spray on them. The directions says to use 5 tablespoons per gallon of water and 1 to 2 tablespoons per quart of water for spring tails (which we have a lot of). Does this sound right or should I reduce this. Thanks for all info.

Julie in Iowa

[Diane]

I'm afraid I don't know what a spring tail is! I think one tablespoon per quart sounds very reasonable... it should get rid of most hitchhikers...

[Petalsofsugar]

Diane, they are very gross, disgusting buggers but they don't bite. Although they look like they could. Awful looking things.

Julie in Iowa

[Tindomul1of9]

NO they aren't. Whats wrong with springtails? I'de leave them in as they eat dead stuff and nasty fungus.
I'm thinking of the little white, or grey tiny tiny tiny, teeny, bugs that jump around like they had a spring in their tails. Every potted plant in your home probably has them. Unless you live in a really dry place.

[Piper]

The AOS book on pests reads:

"Springtails feed on decaying plant material, fungi, bacteria, algae and pollen. They are usually nuisance pests when they occur in large numbers." It doesn't say anything more, which would suggest they're creepy, but not deadly to your plants.

I'd spray with Neen oil, and soak the pot with a high concencration of Neem. It's non-toxic to us and pets, so the concentration isn't worrisome.

Julie

[Petalsofsugar]

Well, I must be thinking of some thing else. These things have what looks like pinchers on them and the are about 3/4 inch long. They like to go under pots that sit on some thing. They really don' t bother any one they just look awful.

Julie in Iowa

[Diane]

Are you describing Earwigs? They can easily be gotten rid of with Earwig Bait. It's a powder you sprinkle under the pots and on the media a few days before bringing inside....

[Piper]

It does sound like earwigs, Julie. Search on that on the Web and you should quickly come up with a photo for a sure ID.

Makes me think of that Star Trek movie where poor Chekov got it! Eww...

McJulie