Pest (tiny bugs) - Help Needed

[Josh]

I got a pest in 2 of my orchids, a Phal and a Dend. Both healthy plants with good roots, but recently appeared very tiny bugs on the potting medium. They are not on the plant itself, just in the medium. They are really really small, unable to be shown on photo, and have a white/silver color.

I reduced waterings in those 2 plants as I was told it helps in these cases. I was also wondering if I could mix some Neem Oil with water in the next watering and water the medium thoroughly with that Neem Oil solution. Could this help get rid of the bugs?

Thanks in advace.

[1joyceh]

Morning Josh,
They may be harmless, but they may be soil gnat larvae, those damage the roots.
I use something with Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt) to water in. It is a beneficial bacteria that kills the little buggers. They sell it several different ways. Safer makes caterpiller killer, a concentrate, there are granules you can sprinkle in, but the cheapest is get a pack of mosquito dunks, put a couple in a knee-high nylon, tie it off like a "teabag", and soak for a couple of days in a gallon of water, then water it in....
I use the knee high stocking because they are cheap enough, and as the dunk dissovles
the little cork bits that the applied to come apart, and I don't like the mess they make LOL
I use the for making my own guano teas too...

[Ray]

If they are quick-moving, they are likely psocids, and really do not present a danger to the plant. However, in my opinion, ANY insect population in the medium indicates there are issues with it - maybe not immediate, but soon - and it tells me it's time to repot.

[Josh]

Yes, they are quick moving.
One of the plants was recently repotted. The other wasn't.

Would the Neem Oil in the next watering help?

[E-Jag]

They very well may be springtails. Tiny, white and quick. They're harmless and they're everywhere. They're a sign of a well balanced environment and are no threat to your plants.

[Josh]

Still, no one answered me if Neem Oil in the watering may help.

Or at least if it won't damage the roots...

[rcb]

Neem oil may help, I'm not sure.

I have used neem before for pest infestations, and while I didn't completely water the pot with it, the neem mixture did run down into the pot, and I didn't seem to have any damage.

[Ray]

I would not drench potting medium with anything containing an oil.

The potting medium will absorb it and hold it for a long time, lowering it's ability to absorb and hold water, and being "subterranean" and not exposed to sunlight, will not break down very fast like it does on foliage, so might bring some suffocating effect to the roots.

[Josh]

Damn, I was hoping it could be a solution for this pest in the medium, as I have used Neem Oil before in the foliage with good results.

[BGGraham1]

Why not try the "Best Stuff Ever?" There's a recipe around this forum that includes water, cinnamon extract and dish soap. It works really well, and should take care of your pest problem.

[dounoharm]

why not repot??

[Josh]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

why not repot??

One of the plants was very recently repotted. I mentioned it above.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by BGGraham1

Why not try the "Best Stuff Ever?" There's a recipe around this forum that includes water, cinnamon extract and dish soap. It works really well, and should take care of your pest problem.

I checked in other threads and it says:

10 drops dishsoap
1.8 ml cinnamon extract (about 1/2 tsp.)
2 cups tepid water

So this is what I should use?

[koshki]

Originally Posted by Josh

One of the plants was very recently repotted. I mentioned it above.

If I had something weird in my medium, I'd repot, no matter how recently I did it.