Hi elenska,

Are they silver and about 1/16 of an inch long? Are you able to catch one or are they too fast. If you answered yes to the first question and no to the second then I would say that you don't have soil mealies. You probably have springtail larva. Mealy bugs are fat and squishy. They don't jump.

Different people have different opinions about springtails. Some don't think they are a problem except for looks. That's my opinion. Others I have heard say they they eat the roots.

I have had springtails in my cacti and succulents but never in my African violets so I'm not sure what you would want to do. I will leave getting rid of them, if you want to, to someone who has done that before.

Larry

Thanks Larry! I looked up some pictures of the springtails and it looks more like them. Never tried to catch one... don't think I want to :( But I would think that the jumping should prove that they are not mealies.
Today I actually found more of them in the soil of my little AV seedlings (from leaf), they just sprouted up after quite some time so I was very happy about them and now they are full of these things. At least it really seems that they are not the mealy bugs. I read that it helps to leave the soil dry out between the waterings, but it's not something I would want to do especially with the seedlings. any suggestions?

Hi elenska,

I have heard of doing a Safer Soap wash. That is pour a solution of safer Soap into soil and soak the soil of the plant's pot. I am not sure what strength to use. I can call a violet grower tomorrow, that I know, who would know this information when his store opens.

Larry

Hi elenska,

I spoke with Barb at the Violet Showcase and she told me two things to do to get springtails under control. First to let the pots dry out between watering, which you already knew. Also do a Safer Soap drench like I described above. Get the kind that is already mixed up. Do not use concentrated Safer Soap directly.

She also told me that her feeling was that springtails are really not a problem for violets as far as she was concerned. That they are basically esthetically unappealing. She said if they really bother you though to use the Safer Soap remedy.

I hope this helps.

Larry

Thanks a lot L! I just repoted the plants and so far it looks ok. I am not going to do anything extra, knowing that the springtails are not going to bother the plants.

Springtails and soil mites just feed on organic matter in the soil from what I understand. They don't attack the plants.