Springtails In Cannabis Soil: What They Mean And What To Do

By Rick Smith / October 3, 2026

Illustration of a potted cannabis plant cut away to show damp soil, with tiny springtails on the surface and a magnifier

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Quick answer: Springtails are tiny, wingless soil animals, about 1/16 inch long, that jump when disturbed. Most are harmless scavengers that feed on fungi, algae and decaying plant matter, and mature plants aren’t significantly injured. Large numbers in a cannabis pot point to soil that stays too wet, so letting the mix dry between waterings is the main fix.

What Are Springtails?

Diagram of a springtail with four facts: about 1/16 inch long, wingless, six legs, and a forked furcula for jumping

Springtails (order Collembola) are minute, wingless, insectlike arthropods about 1/16 inch long. They have six legs, as insects do, but they’re now usually classified as a separate sister group of the insects.

The young are usually whitish. Adults tend to be whitish, bluish or dark gray to black, and while most springtails are slender, one group is round and stout.

How Springtails Jump

Two-panel diagram of a springtail’s furcula, first tucked under the abdomen, then released to launch it up to several inches

Springtails get their name from a forked, tail-like structure called a furcula, tucked under the abdomen. When a springtail is disturbed, the furcula works like a spring and can launch it up to several inches.

Why Springtails Show Up in Cannabis Pots

Diagram of a damp cannabis pot with four callouts on what draws springtails: wet soil, peat, compost and decaying matter

Springtails need moisture. Colorado State University notes that they breathe through their skin, which is why they need moist environments to survive.

UMN Extension says springtails are commonly found in the soil of overwatered houseplants, and that they prefer peat-heavy mixes or soil that is excessively damp. The UC Statewide IPM Program adds that they live in soil, especially soil amended with compost, and feed on decaying plant material, fungi, molds or algae.

In moist soil with lots of organic matter, numbers can be huge: thousands per square foot, according to Colorado State University. Compost-amended mixes such as super soil fit that description.

Photo-style illustration of a young cannabis plant in a pot sitting in a saucer of standing drain water on a bench — Illustration

Are Springtails Bad for Cannabis Plants?

Diagram comparing a mature cannabis plant, not significantly injured by springtails, with a seedling with tiny feeding pits

Most springtails are harmless scavengers that feed mainly on decaying organic matter. The UC Statewide IPM Program notes that some species chew on the roots and leaves of seedlings, which can leave minute, rounded pits on young leaves or roots, or irregular holes in thin leaves. Mature plants are not significantly injured, and springtails rarely cause enough damage to warrant control measures.

UMN Extension describes leaf-feeding damage as a series of tiny holes in the leaf and says it’s typically very minimal. Springtails don’t bite or sting. If seedlings are struggling, rule out the usual suspects too, starting with overwatering and common seedling diseases.

How to Tell Springtails Apart

Diagram of a wingless springtail jumping beside a small fly with clear wings, showing that springtails jump but can’t fly

Springtails and fungus gnats both turn up around damp pots, but only one of them flies. Springtails don’t have wings and can’t fly, though they can jump up to several inches. Fungus gnat adults are weak fliers with a clear pair of wings.

Specks that jump but never fly point to springtails. For more on fungus gnats, see our guides to root aphids on cannabis and protecting marijuana plants from pests and bugs.

Springtails vs. Fleas

Diagram comparing a flea, flattened side to side with a hard body, and a springtail with a rounded, soft body

Because they jump when disturbed, springtails are sometimes confused with fleas. UMN Extension points out that fleas are flattened from side to side and have very hard bodies, while springtails have a more rounded, soft body and are easily crushed.

How to Check a Pot for Springtails

Three-step diagram: water the plant, watch the soil surface for tiny specks that jump, then check the saucer

Water the plant as usual. Springtails are most often noticed just after watering, when they may move from the saturated soil to the surface.
Watch the soil surface and the edges of the pot for tiny specks that jump when disturbed.
Check the saucer. Springtails are also found on the surface of stagnant water.

How to Get Rid of Springtails in Cannabis Soil

Checklist diagram with five ways to dry out springtails, from letting soil dry between waterings to repotting old mix

UMN Extension calls moisture control the most effective option for controlling springtails. Springtails are generally a temporary problem and die when moisture levels are reduced.

Let the soil dry out between waterings, and avoid overwatering.
Water less frequently but more deeply.
Don’t let drain water stand in saucers between waterings.
Dry out wet areas with a fan or dehumidifier.
Repot plants in old, broken-down mix with fresh mix.

Old mix matters because, as Ask Extension explains, potting soil breaks down to a finer texture over time and can compact and retain more moisture. For watering habits that keep the mix from staying soggy, see watering marijuana plants.

Photo-style illustration of a small clip fan moving air over young potted cannabis plants inside a grow tent — Illustration

Springtails in Outdoor Beds

Diagram of an outdoor cannabis bed with three changes: better drainage, less irrigation, fewer organic amendments

Where springtails have been a problem in vegetable gardens, the UC Statewide IPM Program advises that you provide good drainage, reduce irrigation and reduce application of organic amendments. The same steps fit an outdoor cannabis bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springtail fact card: about 1/16 inch long, jump up to several inches, thousands per square foot, breathe through their skin

Are Springtails Good or Bad for Cannabis Soil?

Mostly harmless. Colorado State University says springtails help break down organic matter and recycle nutrients, and their presence is usually a sign of healthy, living soil. The UC Statewide IPM Program notes that some species chew seedling roots and leaves, but mature plants are not significantly injured. Large numbers mainly tell you the mix is staying wet.

Do Springtails Eat Cannabis Roots?

Rarely. UMN Extension says springtails feed on decaying roots and fungi and rarely damage plants. The UC Statewide IPM Program notes that some species chew the roots and leaves of seedlings, leaving minute, rounded pits, while mature plants are not significantly injured. Most springtails are scavengers of decaying organic matter in the mix.

Can Springtails Fly?

No. Springtails don’t have wings and can’t fly. They crawl and jump, using a forked structure under the abdomen called a furcula that works like a spring and can launch them up to several inches. Fungus gnats, which also turn up around damp pots, are small flies with clear wings.

Why Do Springtails Appear After Watering?

Colorado State University explains that springtails are most often noticed just after watering, when they may move temporarily from the saturated soil to the surface. They need moist conditions because they breathe through their skin. The UC Statewide IPM Program calls their continued presence indoors an indicator of moisture.

Will Springtails Go Away on Their Own?

Usually, once the mix dries. University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says large populations are temporary and disappear by themselves, and that allowing the soil to dry out will usually eliminate them in houseplants. UMN Extension adds that springtails die when moisture levels are reduced, so drier watering habits do most of the work.