Have you ever watered your soil while enjoying the peace and tranquility of your garden only to see dozens or even hundreds of tiny small creepy crawlers break out of the soil as if out of a nightmarish zombie movie? So what are these things? Simply put, you have got mites in the soil.
As a green thumb enthusiast, you will come across many different soil-inhabiting organisms when growing and maintaining plants and this is but one of them. While soil mites are generally common in houseplant soil and gardens, mites in soil can become a problem when they arrive in large quantities.
What Are Soil Mites?
Plant mites are a diverse group of tiny arthropods that are typically found in soil, leaf litter, or the surface of the plant. While there are many types of plant mites, the soil mites are typically found on the surface of the plant soil or are borrowed a few inches below.
They are important decomposers and help break down organic matter and recycle the nutrients that are present in the soil which means they play a key role in the soil food web while also being a source of food for other soil organisms thus sustaining the food chain.
Soil mites come in many different shapes and sizes and range from around 1/125th to slightly over 2/25th of an inch (0.2-2 mm) in length. Being closely related to arachnids, they have eight legs and a soft body covered in fine hairs which helps them move through the soil and cling to surfaces.
Like their sizes, they also come in a range of colors with some being white transparent and others as red, black, or brown which can make them difficult to spot. White soil mite are especially difficult to notice unless they come swarming out of the soil due to a recent watering.
Diet of Soil Mites
Some soil mites can be predatory and feed on other small soil animals while others are detritivores and feed on only decaying organic matter. So although most detritivores are only found consuming the compost, in large enough numbers they are known to feed on plant roots especially those suffering light rot due to overwatering.
This can cause damage to your plants and this is without considering the possibility of having spider mites in soil. Unlike the soil mites that are found mainly in the soil, spider mites are present on the leaves and are actively consuming them while laying some webs that cover the underside of your plant leaves.
Damages Caused by Soil Mites
We covered slightly about some of the potential damages which can be caused by plant mites in the previous section, here are even more ways these pesty bugs in the soil can cause even more damage. All the possible damages that can be caused by mites will be specified below:
Contamination of Food
These mites are typically associated with decaying organic matter and are often found in compost heaps and animal nests. They play a role in the decomposition process but can also be found in stored products where they may cause damage.
By nature, mites are attracted to compost and decomposing food materials. While this isn't a problem in itself, when you have soil mites coming into your home, they will shed skin and openly defecate and excrete fluids which may be microscopic but can pose a risk of tainting even fresh and healthy foods in your kitchen or the garden.
Plant mites, especially those from the species of spider mites and soil mites can mess up your garden big time. The latter will burrow into the soil and feed on decaying organic matter including the plant roots. In large enough numbers, they will shock and stunt the general health of your plants.
Whereas the former will actively consume the plant leaves due to being herbivores which will weaken and yellow the plant which reduces the plants' resistance to other pests and diseases creating the beginning of a huge garden contagion and an infested ecosystem.
Nuisance
Apart from being a complete nuisance in terms of the physical damage that they can cause, the mere presence sight of these bugs in the garden soil can also be a great source of stress and anxiety for gardeners especially for those not well prepared or knowledgeable on how to handle the infestation.
Due to their quick reproducing life cycle, even after clearing up the previous generation of mites, they can easily make a return once the next generation hatches. This continual presence of mites despite cleaning up constantly can overwhelm and muddle one's mind instead of being given serenity in the garden.
Allergies
It is estimated that over 20 million Americans live with a form of allergy to mites, while none of them are severe enough to produce an anaphylactic shock, most of them can still range from mild symptoms such as runny nose and sneezing to more serious symptoms such as eczema flare-up or severe asthma attacks.
Since mites usually go unnoticed and are very difficult to discover, it can result in your healthcare provider not being able to diagnose and assess the proper source of the allergic reaction event making it difficult to treat accurately.
Carrier of Disease And Parasites
Even if you happen to be in the lucky half who aren't allergic to the mites, you still can't rest easy because these mites are prone to carrying diseases such as rickettsialpox and scrub typhus which can be dangerous especially since the disease shows up out of nowhere which can make people delay the choice to visit a healthcare practitioner.
Aside from diseases, mites also happen to be a carrier of tapeworm and there is a possibility of getting a tapeworm infestation due to consuming foods contaminated by mites.
Even if you only have the detrivore variant of mites, they will unwillingly and invariantly attract other intruders into your home such as other predatory mites and other predators such as springtails and nematodes.
This in turn can invite further predators such as big-eyed bugs, brown lacewings, dusty wings, green lacewings, minute pirate bugs, etc. This in turn can attract pest birds who may also decide to snack on your plants and their seeds.
Here's how to get rid of soil mites:
1. Don't Use Outside Soil
Since white soil mites are present in most soils which are generally found in nature, one way of avoiding the presence of soil mites in your garden is to not make use of any soil from the outside to use for planting in your homes or garden.
Even if sterile soil has been left outside for some time there is a high risk of possible contamination due to the potting soils or seed starting mixes being capable of retaining moisture and being filled to the brim with compost for fertility making it an appealing source of food for the mites.
So if you can't use the outside soil since the soil mites are present in most outside soils and compost which can transfer them into your garden during the potting process, then what can you use? If you want to prevent soil mites in your plants then we recommend using bagged potting soil.
Most potting soils sold in your local garden stores are made from a carefully crafted blend of organic materials and natural minerals which are free from any pests and can serve as the perfect foundation for any garden due to it being high-quality fertile topsoil.
3. Examine Potting Soil
As explained previously, seed starting mixes are prime for soil mites as they hold on to water very well, are loose and seeds are generally started in warm locations with very few if any predators which create an environment that is extremely favorable to soil mites.
Whether you are using a bagged potting soil mix purchased directly from the local gardening store or adding compost to enrich the soil, make sure to examine them to ensure that they have no mites and sterilize them if necessary.
Soil mites are attracted to wet, so reducing the frequency of watering can help reduce the allure of the potting soil to the soil mites as they require water to help digest the plant materials. That's not all because the dry soil regulates their ability to reproduce which prevents them from laying eggs.
This prevents the next generation of mites from being laid which makes them easier to eliminate. Create a hostile dry environment without stressing out your plants by allowing the top inch of soil to dry between waterings.
5. Go Soilless
Sometimes despite taking all precautions, you can still end up with soil mites. Thus, if you can afford to and your plants are hardy enough, we recommend you to try some soilless mixes for growing your plants as they will not have much decomposing organic material which is used as food by the soil mites.
Some examples of soilless mixes that can be used to grow plants are peat moss or coco coir which are not only cheaper but will also be better than regular soil for the plants that can handle being grown in those mixes.
If you don't want to go soilless then the only other thing that can be done if you are hesitant to apply chemicals and materials to kill the soil mites is to simply repot the plant's potting soil. First, unpot and remove old soil by gently shaking them off the roots of the plant.
Then repot your plant with new bagged or refreshed potting soil which is purchased from the store. If you want to reuse the old soil then you would need to sift the soil and separate the mites from the dirt before potting.
7. Heat The Soil In Oven
If you don't want the hassle of sifting through your entire potting soil just to make sure there are no mites, or you haven't yet planted anything in it but don't want to risk your soil being contaminated, then you may be able to try heat treatment on your soil.
Place the potting mixes in an oven-safe pan at 350°F (177°C) for 5 minutes. The heat will kill any mites or even other bacteria and mold spores resulting in better soil for your plants in an indoor environment.
While you can reduce the frequency of watering and allow the top-soil of the plant to dry completely to deny a feasible and appealing habitat for the mites, if the soil doesn't drain properly and retains water a bit too well then that can also be an issue.
Aside from preventing the creation of a hostile environment for the mites, damp soil can also cause root rot in plants. Consider adding perlite and coarse sand to the potting mix as they improve aeration which in turn creates a well-draining soil.
9. Trim Vegetation
Long plants, trees, and shrubs can act as bridgework in your house for the mites so trimming excessive vegetation present around your home is particularly important to keep back any vegetation that is in contact with or close to the house.
Not only will it reduce the odds of mites penetrating a sterile garden, but it will also deprive them of nesting places as the vegetation can create a humid environment which can be favorable for mites. Thus, many problems including mites can be avoided by simply having a well-maintained yard.
Aside from trimming the vegetation, it is also important to regularly clean up debris such as fallen leaves, wood piles, and such around your plants and in your garden after trimming the vegetation or when it's the fall months.
For starters, by removing the fallen debris you are not only removing decaying matter which can serve as a food source for these garden bugs but you also prevent the build-up of moisture for a damp environment necessary for them to thrive.
11. Maintain Proper Ventilation
Proper ventilation can keep the humidity levels low in your home and prevent it from being a good breeding ground for mites. Use an exhaust fan, dehumidifier, or vents to decrease humidity.
Also, consider putting a fan by the seedlings as it will help with airflow which is vital to healthy seedlings and it will also reduce soil moisture from sticking around to welcome soil mites.
Even with a sterile garden, you can never be too sure. If you create a house that's difficult if not outright impossible for the mites to enter by sealing all the points that they use for entering the house then you can't have a mite infestation.
Carefully examine your house and look after cracks, crevices, or holes in walls, windows, doors, and premises in general, and use caulk or weatherstripping to seal them. For better effectiveness try to also not overlook the places where utility lines enter, such as electricity and communication.
13. Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Now that we have covered all the measures that can be carried out without adding any additives chemical or otherwise to the soil, should they prove to be insufficient here are some additives that you can put into the soil to deal with mites starting with the most environmentally friendly measure, the diatomaceous earth powder.
Also known as DE for short, they have a microscopic abrasive surface that can scratch the exoskeleton of the mites causing them to leak water and perish. Make sure to mix only food-grade DE into the soil.
Another additive method that can be applied to remove soil mites from your garden includes neem oil. Don't use straight unadulterated neem oil which can burn the plant roots.
Instead, create a suitable solution by combining 1 teaspoon of neem oil with 1 quart of warm water and soap. Then spray on a weekly basis to cover the plant leaves and the soil surface to disrupt the natural mite life cycle thus removing them.
15. Apply Cinnamon
If you are not feeling particularly chalant about going through a hasslesome procedure of mixing a liquid solution of neem oil nor going outside to the store to purchase a sack of DE then another alternative which is most likely to already be present in your home is the application of cinnamon.
Cinnamon contains antifungal properties and can assist in combating soil mites despite how they may look. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder over the soil, or add some with water and spray directly onto the soil to ensure a mite-free garden.
Moisture is also a strong attractant for mites and leaky pipes, faucets, and roofs can create moist sections in your house and attract mites despite having a very well-kept, maintained, and quarantined while following every single one of the mite prevention measures.
Despite not being related to gardening malfunctioning or dripping faucets, hosers, and water sprayers can attract mites so the only thing that you can do is the same as you do with any other malfunctioning equipment, fix them.
17. Avoid Outside Compost
To prevent soil mites from coming into your home even if you inspect new plants before buying them from a garden center, if you make use of organic compost you can create a point of entry for the mites. It's also not easy to examine every organic compost thoroughly since they can stink as well.
One thing you can do to prevent contamination via organic compost is to prevent using decomposing matter from outdoors to create your compost as chances as they are already infested.
If you want a more effective solution than neem oil then you could make a combination of water and hydrogen peroxide that is sure to eradicate any pests present in your soil and not just mites.
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide in four parts water in a container and cover your soil to begin the soil mite removal process. Do this regularly and you should be able to see less and less mite activity in your soil.
19. Use Boric Acid
An alternative solution is if you don't have hydrogen peroxide in your home as it makes little sense to go out and spend big bucks on gallons of chemicals that you'll only use once if you also already have another material available in your home.
Boric acid is harmless to humans but is capable of dissolving pests and insects at wholesale making it one of the most powerful tools for insect control at your disposal. Mix 2 teaspoons of boric acid for every cup of water in your solution.
In instances with heavy infestation, no amount of DIY and environmentally friendly measures might be able to help with your mites infestation. In these cases, it might call for making use of chemical insecticides to eradicate the mites in your soil.
Make sure you read and follow the application instructions on the product label and take appropriate care to ensure children and pets are not exposed to the treated areas. Alternatively, you can call the professionals instead.
