Tiny Silver Bugs in Houseplant Soil (3 Silver Bugs & How to Eradicate Them!)

Are you noticing tiny silver bugs in houseplant soil? Do you know that your houseplants may be a breeding ground for tiny microscopic bugs? You don’t see them because they are of extremely small sizes and, most times, bury themselves in the soil.

You should get rid of some of these bugs, especially those with silver or gray color, as they may likely put your plant at risk. This article will introduce you to some notorious silver or grayish-back bugs and give you the perfect lowdown for getting rid of them.

It’s important to note that prevention is key to avoiding infestations of silver bugs in your houseplant soil, so regularly inspecting and cleaning your plants can go a long way in keeping them healthy.

Tiny Silver Bugs in Houseplant Soil

It is saddening to find out that there are bugs in your houseplant soil. Some of these bugs cause more harm than good to the soil. If the pests are silver or gray, they are either isopods, thrips, or springtails.

It is important to identify the type of insect that has invaded your houseplant, as this will help find the perfect solution to get rid of them. 

Rushing to destroy all insects found in houseplant soil can be quite dangerous. This is because some insects do not pose any danger to the soil or improve its growth. Identify the bug and ensure it is harmful before getting rid of it.

1. Isopods

Isopods are tiny insects that resemble armadillos. They have flattened plates on their body and often appear in brown, gray, or silver color. They are between 1 to 2 inches long and are easy to identify. They roll up when touched by anyone. These insects are also called woodlice, roly-polies, or pill bugs. 

They are often found in houseplant soil with decaying material or soil dampness. Isopods are not likely to harm you or your pests, but their life span can be cut short if they move too far from the soil. If you don’t like seeing these insects around your soil, you can get rid of them through various methods.

• You can remove them by hand since they are not harmful. They’ll roll up immediately when you touch them. Throw them outside and destroy them.
•  You can also apply diatomaceous earth in case the pests are too many, or you don’t want to touch them by hand. This will kill the bugs immediately after they make contact.
•  Setting a trap is another method to get rid of isopods. Fill up a small container with beer or kombucha, place it inside the soil and wait for the pests to fall into this trap.
•  A pesticide is another method to kill this pest. Although they can be removed manually, you can use a pesticide if you don’t want to come in contact with the pest.
•  Since these pests are like being in a wet environment, you can allow the soil to dry out completely to get rid of them. Do not water too often, and the bugs will gradually leave.

2. Springtails

They are also called jumping dirt because their tail is folded under their body, propelling them forward in short hops. Springtails are not harmful, and they excrete useful nutrients that are good for the plant’s growth. They consume all harmful substances in the soil. A plant teeming with insects might be a turn-off to many plant owners, and the next thing is to get rid of them.

•   Use diatomaceous earth to get rid of springtails as they either dry them out on contact or dehydrate them. This substance is effective, inexpensive, easy to use, and non-toxic to plants and humans.
•  You can also remove the plant from the soil and drain the infested soil in water. This will free the root from these insects. After cleaning the plant thoroughly, repot into a clean and fresh pot with well-draining soil. Ensure that the soil has no organic matter, as this can attract the pest again.
•  A pesticide will also help to get rid of the pest in no time. The pesticide should be organic or premade and should contain natural oil. You can also make use of homemade pesticides containing 1 gallon of water, four teaspoons of neem oil, and one teaspoon of liquid dish soap.

3. Thrips

Thrips are tiny insects that can infest your plant through opened doors or windows. They are really small bugs that appear in silver color and grow between 0.02 to 0.25 inches. Adult thrips are larger and black.

Thrips often feed on the plant’s soil, flowers, fruits, and leaves. They can damage your plant and make its leaves turn brown in no time. The following methods will help you get rid of the thrips in houseplant soil.

•  Apply a pesticide to the soil and ensure the pesticide doesn’t damage the plant completely. You can make use of a homemade pesticide or any other type.
•  Take the plant out of its soil and remove the infested part by cleaning the soil in water. Repot into the soil with no organic matter. A soil with organic matter can again harm the plant and attract bugs.
•   Mix 2% of soap into the water and spray the plant. You can experiment by spraying this on a small part of the plant and see if it gets damaged in a couple of days. Use this soap mix on other parts of the plant once you are sure it won’t damage it. You can also add neem oil to this mixture to make it more effective. Use other methods if you notice any damage to the plant during experimentation.

Also read: Does Soil Go Bad

Outro

Isopods, thrips, springtails, and mites, to mention a few are some of the most common tiny bugs you’ll find in your house plants. As pointed out in the piece, not all of them are bad for your house plants. 

Thus, only the bad ones should be discarded as they act like a pest that can gradually destroy your plant. It’s important to follow the guidelines in the piece to eliminate dangerous tiny bugs lurking in your plants.

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