Potting Soil Bugs

Some bugs living in potting soil can damage plant roots.

Plants can bring color and life into your home. If you have bugs in the potting soil you used to pot them, the plants can also bring problematic insects into your house.

Types

If you see bugs in your potting soil, you could have fungus gnats or springtails in your houseplants. Fungus gnat larvae live in soil, feeding on fungal matter. Springtails are tiny insects that can leap large distances. They feed on decaying organic matter in potting soil, according to Colorado State University.

Issues

Fungus gnat larvae can feed on the roots of plants, damaging them. This can lead to a plant wilting and failing to thrive. The adults do not damage plants on their own. Springtails do not damage plants, but the sight of flea-like insects hopping around can be an unpleasant nuisance.

Solutions

Reducing soil moisture levels will reduce the number of fungus gnats and springtails in your potting soil. For severe infestations of fungus gnats, you can use pyrethrins and pyrethroid insecticide sprays to kill the adults. Soil drenches of biological insecticides can kill the larvae and prevent them from further damaging your plants.

References

• Colorado State University: Managing Houseplant Pests