Soil Mites: Have you ever been watering your soil in your seed-starting area only to experience a complete nightmare? As soon as the water moves through the pot, the soil seems to come alive, and dozens—or even hundreds—of tiny, creepy crawlers emerge, scuttling and moving through the soil. Perhaps you spot them actively wandering the surface, giving you the overwhelming feeling of a full-blown pest invasion.
So what are these tiny creatures? And what does it mean if they’ve taken up residence in your soil? The answer is soil mites.
What are soil mites?
Soil mites are tiny, diverse arthropods that thrive in environments like soil, leaf litter, and decomposing organic matter. They’re vital to the ecosystem, acting as natural decomposers by breaking down organic materials and returning essential nutrients to the soil. These little creatures are an integral part of the soil’s food chain, serving as prey for other organisms such as springtails, nematodes, and predatory mites.
Soil mites vary dramatically in shape and size, with some being as small as 0.2 mm and others growing up to 2 mm long. They have eight legs and soft, fine hair on their bodies that allow them to move through soil and grip onto surfaces. Some soil mites hunt other tiny soil creatures, while others stick to feeding on dead, decaying organic matter. A few species even target plant roots, which can become problematic for plants if their numbers grow too high. Soil mites can come in a range of colors, including shades of grey, brown, tan, white, and red.Soil mites are tiny, diverse arthropods that thrive in environments like soil, leaf litter, and decomposing organic matter. They’re vital to the ecosystem, acting as natural decomposers by breaking down organic materials and returning essential nutrients to the soil. These little creatures are an integral part of the soil’s food chain, serving as prey for other organisms such as springtails, nematodes, and predatory mites.
Soil mites vary dramatically in shape and size, with some being as small as 0.2 mm and others growing up to 2 mm long. They have eight legs and soft, fine hair on their bodies that allow them to move through soil and grip onto surfaces. Some soil mites hunt other tiny soil creatures, while others stick to feeding on dead, decaying organic matter. A few species even target plant roots, which can become problematic for plants if their numbers grow too high. Soil mites can come in a range of colors, including shades of grey, brown, tan, white, and red.
What Should You Know If Soil Mites Are Found in Your Home?
Soil mites are common in most soils, especially in non-sterilized soil, potting mixes with compost, or soil moved indoors from outdoor plants. They thrive in damp, nutrient-rich, warm, loose soil with few natural predators. Seed-starting mixes are ideal for soil mites because they retain moisture well, are light, and are often kept in warm indoor spaces.
How to Handle Soil Mites if You Find Them
Water Less Frequently – While mites can survive in dry conditions for a while, reducing watering limits their ability to reproduce. This helps control their population until you can move your plants outdoors, where they won’t pose an issue. As decomposers, soil mites rely on moisture to break down plant material, so less water can naturally suppress their activity.
Cleanse the Soil Through Heat – Before you begin planting, you can eliminate soil mites, harmful bacteria, and mold spores by sterilizing your soil. To do this, place the soil in an oven-safe pan and heat it in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes. This simple step will give your indoor garden a fresh, uncontaminated foundation for healthy plant growth.
Switch to Soilless Mixes – Using soilless mixes can help reduce soil mite problems because they lack the decomposing organic matter that serves as a food source for these pests. Opt for mixes with peat moss or coco coir instead of traditional soil enriched with compost, manure, or topsoil, as they are less likely to attract or sustain soil mites.
Sterilize Your Soil – If planting hasn’t started yet, consider heating your soil to eliminate any unwanted mites, bacteria, or mold spores. To do this, place the soil in an oven-safe pan and heat it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. This process creates cleaner, healthier soil, making it safer for your indoor plants.
Final Thoughts
Soil mites are NOT the same as spider mites. While they belong to the same family, they are distinct organisms and require different approaches when it comes to control methods.
I hope you found this helpful and learned some useful tips for your garden. Happy growing!