Spring tails and what to do...

[rinapedia]

Hello fellow orchid lovers!

I am hoping you can help me. By reading some of the posts on the orchid forum I learned that this new bug I've found in my two mini phals are called spring tails. However, I do not know what I should do to get rid of them. Some say to leave it alone. But I think their nest may be in my orchids because I've never had them before in ay of my house plants or other orchids. The population isn't disgusting, but it is growing and eeking me out. Any advice you can give would be great.

Background: I have had my mini phals for three years. This is the first year/time I've ever encountered these spring tails. THe first year, I didn't know what I was doing and potted my mini phals in the Scott's orchid mix I bought from boxstore (which was basically dirt). They actually did fine in that medium for two years. (no pests) Then I joined my local orchid society and learned I should repot in bark. So I repotted my mini phals in the phal mix --- Vendor information removed - see FAQs on Posting ---. My mini phals love it and are thriving very well. They both have grown two leaves since I repotted in November, and are ready to bloom (new spikes started a few weeks ago). One also has a keiki. --- Vendor information removed - see FAQs on Posting --- But again, I've never had this problem before until I potted them in that bark. Should I repot even thought they are ready to bloom?

Thank you for reading and any advice you can give.

:-)

[Kmac]

Springtails can be annoying, but I've been told they don't really harm plants...and that they will can show up anywhere you have damp, decaying organic matter. The two things I have seen recommended are those sticky yellow sheets that you put on stakes in your pots (works like flypaper), and a soil drench of 1-2 ounces of Orange Oil per gallon water. I haven't had flytails, but I use both methods to control fungus gnats. The orange oil is available in my local big box store, near other organic stuff.

[rinapedia]

Thank you Kathi!

The "T" stands for tablespoons, correct? I will try the orange oil. The orange oil in water as long as it doesn't hurt the orchids.

The mini phals are in plastic pots, which hold more moisture compared to the clay pots I used to use. So it's damp in the middle of the pot even when I don't water for a week. But the phals seem to be loving it.

Thank you for taking the time out to respond to my question!

:-)
rina

[Kmac]

oops...glad you asked!!! It should have said 1-2 ounces, not T (tablespoons). I fixed it above.

[kiwiorchids]

Spring tails....they aren't the fluffybums are they? the passionvine hopper nymphs? those are AWESOME! can be a pain though and spread diseases. I squirt with water or flyspray every day in summer (their "season") that does the trick.....But then again, i might be wrong......they could be the thrips? i have no idea...just a piece of random info

[Kmac]

Spring tails....they aren't the fluffybums are they?

LOL! Fluffybums? Can't help there. This article has a pic of them though...

http://organicgardensite.com/bugs-be...l/springtails/

[kiwiorchids]

oh, nope. never seen them, unless they are those minute bugs that feed on fungus...we get small mats of those on our pond sometimes....