If you have ever had tiny silver bugs in your house plant soil, you are not alone. The good news is that there are simple steps to take in order to keep them away from your plants!
What Are The Tiny Silver Bugs in Houseplant Soil?
They are either springtails, isopods, or thrips. All three insects are extremely small and can be difficult to see with the naked eye. They are not overly dangerous for your plants, but they can definitely cause damage to the leaves.
They don’t bite or sting, nor will they carry diseases that could harm you or any members of your family who may come into contact with them.
Although these tiny silver bugs aren’t known for hurting people, it is still nice to get rid of them if possible!
They are often found by consumers that bought a new potted plant from a nursery! The plant was likely held with other stock plants that were infested with these notorious insects.
How Can I Get Rid Of the Tiny Silver Bugs in Soil?
You should re-pot your plant and then use diatomaceous earth as a preventative measure to keep these insects away from your soil.
Diatomaceous earth (Amazon link) is a natural product that won’t hurt your plants, but it will kill the tiny silver bugs living in your soil.
When repotting any houseplants, make sure to dump out all of the old soil and use new potting mix instead! This will prevent tiny silver bugs from coming back.
It works by piercing their bodies and dehydrating them until they die. Because it is a powdery substance, you should wear gloves while applying diatomaceous earth to protect yourself from getting any on your skin! Diatomaceous Earth can be found at most garden centers or online retailers for around $15 per pound bag.
Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on the soil and around the base of your houseplants, as well as in any cracks or crevices where they might be hiding.
What Can I Do To Prevent Tiny Silver Bugs?
When you bring home a new houseplant from the store, always inspect it for any bugs before bringing it into your home!
A good way to keep track of everything is by taking a picture with your phone camera! This means that if something does happen to appear out of nowhere, at least you have it documented for future reference!
You can prevent any silver bugs from returning by protecting your plant with diatomaceous earth and a regular dusting of the soil.
By taking these simple steps, you’ll be able to keep your home plant free from any tiny silver bugs!
FAQ
How can I tell if there is a tiny silver bug infestation in my houseplant soil?
You may spot the bugs crawling along the surface of your pot and around its base where it meets with the soil, but you should also be checking underneath leaves for any signs of them hiding out as well! Sometimes they can be found right on the surface of loose potting soil.
What do tiny silver bugs look like?
They are extremely small and can be difficult to see with the naked eye. Their body is either shiny silver or grey color! They may also appear as light purple in hue depending on how direct of lighting you’re looking at them under.
Where did these tiny silver bugs come from?
The likely answer is your plant itself! If it came from a nursery where there were other plants present, then those little guys could’ve hopped onto yours by accident when you brought it home and repotted it into new soil!
Do tiny silver bugs in houseplant soil lay eggs?
A. Yes, these three insects will reproduce inside your potted plants and you may notice more once their numbers have increased! They can also travel from other locations where they are present to infest yours as well.
When are the tiny silver bugs in soil most active?
They are most active during the night. This is possibly why you rarely see them during the day.
Can I use household soap to get rid of tiny silver bugs in the soil?
No, you should avoid using this method because it may kill your plants! Instead, try diatomaceous earth for safe and effective bug control.
Do they bite people or pets?
No, these tiny silver bugs do not attack humans or animals in any way! If you do come into contact with them, don’t worry too much about it! They’re more annoying than they are dangerous and there is always a good solution for getting rid of them when necessary.
What foods do bugs in plant soil eat?
Springtails feed on fungi and bacteria that live in the soil. This will eventually kill your plant if not taken care of! They are also known to harm plants by feeding off their roots, which can cause damage as well.
How long does it take for tiny silver bugs to reproduce?
Springtails have a very short life cycle. It only takes about six weeks or less on average for this species of hexapoda to go from egg to adult! This is why it’s so important that you get rid of any infestations as soon as possible so they don’t multiply and take over your potted plants.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these tiny silver bugs are more annoying than dangerous, but they can still cause damage to your houseplants if you don’t get rid of them.
You can deal with this issue by changing the soil and applying diatomaceous earth to the soil. This will get rid of the bugs and make sure they never return – phew!
I hope this blog helped you understand what to do if there are tiny silver bugs in your houseplant soil!
Tim is an avid gardener from the UK. He was the founder of PlantCarer.com from 2021 to Sep 2023. He sold PlantCarer.com to Aaron. He has since started his own business called Seed To Supper, which provides new gardeners all the materials you need in a box (pots, seeds, compost and instructions) to grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetables and herbs from start to finish – no garden required.
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