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woodlice in pots

hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
in Problem solving
Whenever I grow plants in pots, I end up with woodlice which seem to kill the plants by eating the roots. I am trying pot feet that lift the pot off the ground ... any idea if they work? Any other suggestions? I'm trying to cover up some insipid fence/wall around a patio using pots (and eventually troughs/planters).
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  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    I don’t think woodlice cause any damage at all, you are probably seeing them if plants are already dead. You aren’t thinking of vine weevils are you? They kill plants by eating roots.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I agree, Woodlice do not eat plants.
    How can you lie there and think of England
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  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    Hmmm, thanks both, back to the drawing board!
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I get them and feed them to my toads.  I don't think they do much damage to roots.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    Just to add my plants in pots always seem to die ... so the woodlice be eating the roots after they die.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What plants are you trying to grow @hiacedrifter and what soil/growing medium is in the pots? Is the drainage right?  What is your care regime for them? 

    It's surprising how often on the forum we discover that drainage holes are blocked, or even non existent,  which means nothing will grow well. The opposite can also be true - plants allowed to completely dry out.
    If you can give us more info, we might be able to give better advice     :)
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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @highacdrifter Woodlice can be found up on a roof or chimney pot. If you find them in a pot it is often because it has been undisturbed for some time. They may occasionally eat the roots of seedlings but nothing like vine weevils. If you have plants without roots that is vine weevil.  Tiny cream grubs with reddish head will be found close to roots?
    Heuchera and Primula are favourites especially in a nice rich compost.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    GardenerSuze said:
     If you have plants without roots that is vine weevil.  Tiny cream grubs with reddish head will be found close to roots?
    Heuchera and Primula are favourites especially in a nice rich compost.
    VW grubs not only found close to roots but will also tunnel inside the roots.  The larger the grub, the easier to see but the tinies are often difficult to spot/extract >:)  

  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    Fairygirl said:
    What plants are you trying to grow @hiacedrifter and what soil/growing medium is in the pots? Is the drainage right?  What is your care regime for them? 

    It's surprising how often on the forum we discover that drainage holes are blocked, or even non existent,  which means nothing will grow well. The opposite can also be true - plants allowed to completely dry out.
    If you can give us more info, we might be able to give better advice     :)
    I haven't tried pots for a few years, but I tend to grow herbs (bay, rosemary, thyme) and lavendar. usually terracotta pots, with good drainage. Bog standard potting compost.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Herbs like old spent compost[ as long as there are no V W grubs in it]  fierce drainage and full sun. If your pots are soggy over winter that might be why.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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