Reusing soil after mites?
- Thread starter growclean
- Start date
mites aren't so bad if you just follow the directions. I would not throw away good soil with mites in exchange for new soil with more mites that are all around you.
add beneficial nematodes and or add diatomaceous earth dust (id use both)
let the soil cure for a while, them mites should will die
you can also use a DE layer on the soil and powder the stems, once you deside to use the soil, the dust should kill any mite that decides to try and climb to get your plant
i think the 3lbs used DE as a precaution
HTH
let the soil cure for a while, them mites should will die
you can also use a DE layer on the soil and powder the stems, once you deside to use the soil, the dust should kill any mite that decides to try and climb to get your plant
i think the 3lbs used DE as a precaution
HTH
Never had an issue. If your chosen treatment left your soil full of eggs/etc then you have two major methods:
A. Sterilize it and start over (oven, etc)
B. Make sure it's lively and happy and give it a month or so of rest (use it as inert filler in your compost pile, mix it up with some active and let it age for a bit, etc).
I've used both methods before, they both work well. Method B however has my vote as it not only enriches your soil (nitrogen fixers, etc) but it'll result in a background population of critters that will actively defend the plant from future problems.
Without the rest however you can always have a patch of eggs that took longer than normal to hatch out into new mites (this natural variation in hatching times helps mite populations survive as a whole over time). Too cool a temp during this rest can result in adults & eggs going into hibernation (or estivation, etc) and surviving the downtime. You idealy want conditions that tell any remaining eggs & adults "holy crap, hatch, there's ideal conditions for you", and then of course, they starve or are eaten by your background critters.
Be aware that mites can and do climb and go out on adventures, laying down eggs the whole way. If you don't give your entire space a very thorough cleaning (tools, equipment, lights, ducts, etc) then you're asking for trouble.
A. Sterilize it and start over (oven, etc)
B. Make sure it's lively and happy and give it a month or so of rest (use it as inert filler in your compost pile, mix it up with some active and let it age for a bit, etc).
I've used both methods before, they both work well. Method B however has my vote as it not only enriches your soil (nitrogen fixers, etc) but it'll result in a background population of critters that will actively defend the plant from future problems.
Without the rest however you can always have a patch of eggs that took longer than normal to hatch out into new mites (this natural variation in hatching times helps mite populations survive as a whole over time). Too cool a temp during this rest can result in adults & eggs going into hibernation (or estivation, etc) and surviving the downtime. You idealy want conditions that tell any remaining eggs & adults "holy crap, hatch, there's ideal conditions for you", and then of course, they starve or are eaten by your background critters.
Be aware that mites can and do climb and go out on adventures, laying down eggs the whole way. If you don't give your entire space a very thorough cleaning (tools, equipment, lights, ducts, etc) then you're asking for trouble.
I am fortunate to have topsoil that contains thousand of voracious little predator soil mites. These guys are PISSED!!!,they are actively hunting for something to eat every time I get down and check out the top surface of the soil. I have no idea what they are eating. I have a few sucker mites here and there,but notice they don't manage to over populate. I'm re-using my soil and I'll bet I won't have sucker mite eggs or leftovers hanging around for the next run. Looks like these guys only live on or within an inch of the soil surface,so I have no idea if they are climbing the plants to eat the suckers or not. I'm guessing that if a sucker mite or eggs fall down,they are toast! Something to look into maybe.
growclean
Grow Clean.... Go Fast!
Yeah, this is what I am going to do. Thanks for the advice everyone!
