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Woodlice in pots

Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
in Problem solving
I've been emptying most of my summer pots and have found that in the compost in most of them there's masses of what we call Slaters, but what I think most people call woodlice.  Am wondering if they do any harm to plants.  They also seem to lurk underneath any pots etc which sit on slabs or concrete.  Should I be worried or are they harmless? 
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They eat dead stuff mainly, and are part of the whole process of 'natural waste management'.
    They like damp dark places, so it's normal to find them under pots etc  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
    Thanks fairygirl, so I don't need to worry about them in compost then?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Just ignore them. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
    OK thanks everyone.  Horrible little things though, lol.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'm quite fond of them. One of the hardest working creatures in the garden   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I won't have a word said against woodlice.  My scruffy garden is swarming with them and I regard them as pets.  (Though I did leave off naming them when I realised I couldn't tell them apart.)   They are so humble - they scurry out of sight when uncovered, and are content to live in dank, dark places and eat rubbish.  I like to think of them as miniature armadillos.
  • Poly-anthusPoly-anthus Posts: 155
    lol!
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I love them too.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Tip them out and let them run away.
    However, if they went over the threshold, that would be another matter.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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