Strange Bugs in Chilli soil...???

[Lizzy]

I think I have these in a pot of mint, I brought in to overwinter as I was afraid I was going to lose it (Moroccon Mint) there are a lot of white things coming out of the bottom of the pot. How do I get rid of them?

[ginger ninger]

I think I have these in a pot of mint, I brought in to overwinter as I was afraid I was going to lose it (Moroccan Mint) there are a lot of white things coming out of the bottom of the pot. How do I get rid of them?

Have you a photo of the white bits coming out of the pot Lizzy? If you have could you post it on here then other peeps might be able to help you better.

[Lizzy]

I will have a go, but I think they are too small. They are tiny, and jumpy, as described above. As soon as the pot dries out and I take the dish off that the plant is standing in and it is covered in these white flitty things. I have washed out loads, there is no end of them. I put extra compost of the top of the plant, (before I descovered them) so they are not on the top.

Liz

[ginger ninger]

They sound very much like spring tails Lizzy, My opinion is your mint will be OK, you have to be very unlucky to kill mint.

[chris]

I think I may have these. I only noticed two pots having one in each - I was checking to see if I needed to pot on and then saw one move.. One on a pepper, and one on a chilli.

Both plants have been indoors since germination - windows never opened. How would they have come in - from the compost? I used a different brand of compost for these (Vitax) - all my others in other brands are fine? I've not potted these on yet, but they do need it doing soon, some roots are coming out of the holes in the bottom of the pots.

I'm itching just thinking about them They've been in a room with the door open to that room - which is opposite our baby's room!! Think I'll get a blowaway temp in, to get them out of the house *itch* *itch* *itch*

Excuse the poor quality pic, don't have a macro lense - slightly OOF too.

*itch*