FlyTrapCare Forums

I've heard a lot about the benefits of springtails.

Is there any particular reason I would not want to release a bunch of them on my plants?

I'm wondering if it's like the lady bug and preying mantis situation where "they're good for your garden!" but they're either invasive or all leave because they don't like the environment.

I gotta say springtails kinda look cute.

Mold is a reason

Wait I thought you said why not the opposite, carry on

I had a colony spontaneously pop up in my pot of U. cornuta and never noticed any adverse effects on the plants, nor did they spread to any other pots that were a couple inches away. They may not do well in lfs because they stayed contained to the only pot in which I exclusively used peat dust/sludge. I'm not sure if they're still there now, but they were there in significant numbers for several months at least. I'd personally try to find a native species though, possibly by gathering some decomposing leaf litter which I'd expect would have decent odds of containing some.

I've heard that some species may snack on the roots and leaves of seedlings but I think that mostly they're harmless and maybe even beneficial.

Personally, I'd pull the trigger and see what happens. I'm thinking of adding them to my baby venus flytraps to see if it's an easy way to feed them and promote their growth.

No reason at all in fact many baby carnivores love the little guys.

Springtails are great! I’ve started adding them to the covered trays that I use for ping pullings and they have really helped reduce mold.