Question
Hi Will,

Your recent answer to somebody's question about fuzzy eggs on their plants and soil prompts me to write about a similar concern. A couple of my plants have small, egg-like somethings in my soil, too, but I am squeamish about squishing them because I'm afraid the "eggs" might be spider egg sacs and I'm deathly afraid of spiders, especially large HAIRY ones! (The plants are near an open window.) How do I distinguish spider eggs from less scary substances like perlite and if they are spider eggs, how can I rid my plants of them!

Thanks,
Pat

Answer
Hi Pat,

I am an expert on house plants, but not spider eggs. However, I have never see spider eggs in potting soil and I doubt very strongly that is what you are seeing.

Perlite is white and granular and interspersed throughout the soil, not clustered in a few locations. The grains are quite hard and do not squish.

Timed released fertilizer pellets are almost perfectly round and come in a variety of colors. They tend to float to the top of the soil surface and they have a hard outer shell that crushes easily between your fingers.

Check with a spider expert to find out what spider eggs look like and whether they are ever deposited in pots of soil.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]