Natural change

Soil mites

Tiny round mites crawling in potting mix or compost; they eat decaying matter and don't harm plants.

What you'll see

• Tiny, slow-moving mites, often round and tick-like, on damp mix, compost or bark.
• They gather where there are rotting leaves, moss, bark or mold.
• The plant grows normally, with no speckled leaves or webbing.

Why it happens

Soil mites are scavengers that help break down decaying organic matter. They arrive with compost, bark or potting mix and multiply where it stays damp.

What to do

1. No treatment needed: they don't damage plants.
2. If they bother you, remove dead leaves and moss from the pot, and let the top of the mix dry between waterings.
3. Repot into fresh mix if the old mix is breaking down.

Keep it from coming back

• Tell them apart from spider mites, which live on the leaves and cause speckling and webbing.

Sources

• Washington State University Extension: Oribatid mites (PLS-21)

General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.