Does anyone know how to control/erradicate slaters (woodlice)? I have a severe problem with them, especially when it comes to pot-plants. They burrow into the mix and eat all the roots and eat the leaves and crowns of my Phalaenopsis orchids which I have now had to hang from the roof of the greenhouse. There are hundreds of the things everywhere. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Slaters mainly eat rotting vegetation. The orchid mix you are using may be too broken down and need replacing. This would account for the number of slaters you have. Cheers,Dee.
Thanks for the link AlisonOZ. I had been trying to grow my plants without chemicals but enough was enough. I bought some slater powder and lightly spread it over all the orchids and the next day every pot had dead slaters in the top or underneath them. The slaters here are so prolific and voracious! I thought they just ate detritis aswell but they can quickly devestate an orchid collection. My plants had only recently been repotted into fresh coconut chips so old mix was not the issue and i keep the floor very clean. I didnt know slaters to be serious pests untill moving down here, hopefully they shouldn't be a problem for a while.
Hi Adam, I too am in Mandurah and agree.....the slater population here on this property is much worse than I have ever experienced. If you don't wish to use chemicals..... try upturned half orange skins. Thousands will set up inside in just one night. Then you can dispose of them each morning. I don't think the slaters are 'eating' anything, but the pesty little things do bite!! I also have a HUGE problem with Mole Crickets that I have never experienced elsewhere..... Good luck, Gail
I never thought that slaters ate live plants either but I was soon prooved wrong. They especially love the roots and young leaves of moth orchids and other more delicate plants like anthuriums. I tried the orange/apple thing as well as trying to capture them in wet cardboard roll but that diddnt work either. I finally used some chemicals and i was amazed at how many there were, every pot had a good layer of dead slaters in it. Since I poisoned I havent had any problems with them.
