Question
Hi Will C.,
I made the mistake of using outdoor soil a couple of years ago to help fill some of my potted plants. I didn't know back then because i was a novice and i was like...15-16 years old. My area is really bad for springtails. you see them everywhere and are especially obvious during winter months when they find there way to the surface of the snow. everyone calls them "snow fleas" around here.
But they have totally over run a few of my potted indoor plants. they seem to eat the soil or something because there is nearly no more "soil" left. The medium has a very crumbly texture and has thousands of tiny pellets.
My question is... Do they cause harm to my plants? Are they good for them in any way? How do i get rid of them?
They had infested my birds nest Sanseviera trifasciata. It doesn't seem to be growing too well. It grows a bit slow and it gets a bit shriveled. im not sure if it needs more light or what.

Please help!
I don't want my poor baby's to suffer :( Most of my plants have them.
Thank you,
   Pennie East

Answer
Hi Pennie,

Springtails do occur in indoor plants, but they are unusual. Obviously, yours were imported with the outdoor soil that you brought indoors. Lesson learned!

Springtails need moisture and food to survive and damp soil provides both. Their food includes decaying vegetation, fungi, bacteria, pollen, algae, lichens and other substances usually found outdoors. They are harmless to the plants and their activity actually helps enrich the soil and enhance the soil texture. Nonetheless, you probably don't want these critters indoors.

The first step in eliminating them is to deprive them of the moisture they require by allowing your plants to dry out close to the wilt point before adding any water. You should also remove all loose soil from the surface of the plants that is not in direct contact with the roots. This may eliminate a lot of the springtails that usually live close to the soil surface. This will also help the soil dry out deeper into the pot.

If all else fails, you can drench the soil with a pesticide that contains pyrethrine.

BTW, snow fleas are black springtails that feed on algae and fungal spores on the surface of old snow banks.

I have written an article on indoor plant pests that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com