Tiny Bugs!! Help!!

[Reno.eNVy.446]

So I watered my plants today and barely noticed these tiny bugs. There could be close to a thousand. They don't seem to even be on the plants, just the soil. And they usually hang around the edge of the pot. What kind of pesticide should I use?

[Metalace]

please read the above sticky threads. The one thats says bugs.

[shivaganesha]

Sounds like gnats... right now they'll be busy laying eggs in your soil and the babies will feed on the roots of your plant.

Some yellow sticky strips will help keep down their population. Pesticides on your plants/roots is not a good idea.

[linedrivr]

get some Neem oil and mix it with water in a spray bottle. Spray the underside leaves, stems, pot and top of dirt. repeat in 5 days. you have many so you might have to repeat several times every 5 days to completely rid yourself of them.

I had the same issue on some soil I bought at Walmart to use for a mom plant. The bugs came in the soil. typical for cheap soil.

regards,
linedrivr

[CaliCoast]

Are you talking about those red specks? They look like spider mites. Neem those bitches now before they get too out of hand. If that doesn't work you can try beneficial predatory mites, Phytoseiulus Persimilis or Amblyseius Californicus. These guys eat mites and it's an all natural way to handle your bug woes.

[AugustWest]

those are fungus gnats.. very common with wet soil. Let the top layer of your soil dry out a little and put some thin slices of garlic around the top of the soil and they'll be gone in a few days.
Don't leave any standing water around and try to keep the humidity down a little or they'll keep coming back.
good luck.

[CaliCoast]

Am I the only one that doesn't see gnats? I only see red specks. Maybe I need glasses lol.

[AugustWest]

lol i see reddish and black specs. I was going with the black ones haha.

hey reno.. are they small black flies that chill on the surface of the soil and fly away when you tap the pot?
Or are they little red guys hanging out on the leaves?

That pic is kinda tough to tell.

cali: you don't need glasses.. i see what you're seeing as well

[Reno.eNVy.446]

Originally Posted by AugustWest

lol i see reddish and black specs. I was going with the black ones haha.

hey reno.. are they small black flies that chill on the surface of the soil and fly away when you tap the pot?
Or are they little red guys hanging out on the leaves?

That pic is kinda tough to tell.

cali: you don't need glasses.. i see what you're seeing as well

Nah, they're reddish. From the research I've done since I posted this thread I'm pretty sure they're spider mites. I'll neem those fuckers then. Where can I find that stuff? Will the Wally World have it?

August: There's only the reddish ones, no fliers. Your description makes sense, though. One of the plants has a mostly dry top layer and they are only wanting to hang around the moist areas. But we have been over-watering. We discovered that when we transplanted them to see if we could rid the mites that way. They are now on a much more conservative watering schedule.