Are these spider mites? I saw what I believed were spider mites on a few leaves and so I wiped the leaves down and got rid of them, and I still see none of them or these on the leaves, but the soil is now home to thousands of whatever these things are, and yesterday I noticed my tree is starting to droop. Please tell me there’s some way I can nuke them without having to uproot this thing.
Where do they even come from?? I feel like every month there’s a new pest that materializes out of thin air and is trying to kill every plant in my home 😑
Thanks so much for any advice!
I water weekly. The tree has drainage and gets N/E light. I’ve also been watering with a bit of fungus gnat pesticide and liquid earthworm ‘castings’ mixed in.
by militantpuppies
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Are they on the plant? Pests don’t usually chill on the pot because they are too busy trying to eat the plant.
Please reply to !automod
As strange as it might seem, they are not on the trunk or leaves of the tree. They really are just in the soil. I’m assuming they’re damaging the roots given how well the tree was doing before this…? I’ve also noticed something else interesting (at least to me)— I may not have noticed them because I was doing quick and casual checks on the plant and soil. But when I crouch close for a bit, they all come crawling out of the soil by the hundreds because of the heat of my breath.
Soil mites are a thing and they’re usually pretty harmless. I’m not really sure how to identify them besides getting a good up close photo/microscope, and just making sure you don’t see any on the plant itself. Spider mites will be up with the foliage, not chilling in the soil or on the pot.
I have no idea if this is remotely correct, but the body shape of them reminds me of weevils. I’m standing by for more info – hopefully someone has an answer!