Slaters are not insects. They are crustaceans and so are more closely related to shrimps than they are to insects. There are several hundred species of native slaters, but the most common slaters found in urban gardens are introduced from Europe. Slaters have several other common names including woodlice, pillbugs, and butcher boys.
Slaters thrive in damp conditions and are usually active at night. Slaters have become more of a pest in some gardens, especially in heavily mulched gardens, over the last decade or so. Slaters are usually scavengers that mostly feed on decaying vegetable matter, but they also feed on living plants.
The elegant Alii Ficus is a popular houseplant loved for its graceful, cascading branches and glossy narrow leaves. However, these beautiful trees can sometimes become infested with annoying pests like slaters. Slaters, also known as pill bugs or woodlice, are small grey crustaceans that can damage roots and leaves. If you’ve discovered these crawling invaders on your Alii Ficus, you likely want to get rid of them quickly.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain what slaters are, why they attack Alii Ficus trees, and most importantly, how to effectively eliminate them using natural, organic methods. With the right approach, you can banish slaters from your plant and prevent future infestations.
What are Slaters?
Slaters are tiny grey crustaceans with rigid, segmented exoskeletons. They are land-dwelling relatives of shrimp, crabs, and lobsters About 1⁄2 inch long when fully grown, they crawl slowly over soil, mulch and plant foliage in search of decaying organic matter to eat
While mostly harmless, a slater infestation can seriously damage your Alii Ficus. They munch on roots and leaves, leaving unsightly holes and yellowing Left unchecked, a heavy slater infestation can even kill your plant
What Attracts Slaters to Alii Ficus Trees?
Slaters thrive in damp humid environments with rotting leaves and debris. Some key factors that draw them to Alii Ficus trees include
- Wet soil from overwatering
- Poor drainage without enough holes in the pot
- Accumulated dead leaves or mulch around the base
- Presence of decaying wood or compost nearby
- Excess shade or moisture in the environment
By correcting these conditions, you remove what attracts slaters to take up residence on your plant.
Organic Ways to Remove and Kill Slaters
Getting rid of slaters takes some patience and diligence. Here are effective organic methods to eliminate and prevent slaters on your Alii Ficus tree:
Manual Removal
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Inspect leaves and stems carefully and pick off any slaters you find by hand. Crush them or drop them in soapy water.
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Use a soft brush to gently dislodge slaters so they fall onto paper below.
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Repeat inspections daily to remove new generations before they multiply.
Improving Soil Conditions
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Repot the Alii Ficus in fresh, sterile potting mix if the current soil is wet and contains slater eggs.
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Add more drainage holes to the pot if the existing ones are inadequate.
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Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
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Remove any mulch, dead leaves, or debris around the base of the plant.
Traps
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Place damp cardboard or wet newspaper around infected areas overnight. Slaters will congregate under these traps which you can then remove and discard in the morning.
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Partially bury small wooden boards or wet grapefruit skins near the base of the plant to attract slaters so you can destroy them easily.
Natural Pesticides
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Make a natural garlic-pepper insecticidal spray and apply to leaves and soil. Slaters hate the strong scent.
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Mix a few drops of dish soap with water in a spray bottle and spray leaves liberally to irritate slaters.
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Treat the soil around the Alii Ficus with food-grade diatomaceous earth. The sharp edges dehydrate and cut slaters when encountered.
Biological Controls
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Release predatory beetles, centipedes, or spiders around the pot to feed on slaters.
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Introduce parasitoid wasps which lay eggs inside slaters, killing them before they reach maturity.
With persistence, these organic methods can effectively eliminate a slater infestation and provide ongoing prevention. Avoid toxic chemicals which can harm your Alii Ficus.
Preventing Future Slaters Infestations
Once you’ve succeeded in removing all visible slaters, take proactive steps to prevent the pests from recurring:
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Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings and ensure pot has adequate drainage.
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Keep area around the pot free of decaying matter slaters feed on.
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Mix a thin layer of diatomaceous earth or crushed eggshells into the potting soil to deter slaters.
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Set up yellow sticky traps around the pot to catch adult slaters before they lay eggs.
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Rotate natural pesticide treatments monthly as a preventative measure.
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Quarantine new plants before placing them near the Alii Ficus to prevent transferring slaters.
With vigilance and correct cultural practices, you can keep slaters away for good.
When to Seek Professional Help
In severe infestations, it may be prudent to enlist the services of a professional pest control company. They can utilize commercial-grade pesticides and growth regulators that disrupt the slater lifecycle. However, always ask them to use the least-toxic products possible to minimize risks to your Alii Ficus.
Give Your Alii Ficus a Fresh Start
Slaters can be stubborn pests, but don’t give up. With the solutions outlined in this guide, you can rid your Alii Ficus of these troublesome creatures for good. Remember to correct any conditions conducive to slaters, apply organic treatments liberally, and take preventative measures to ensure your plant stays slater-free for good. A healthy, thriving Alii Ficus tree will be your reward!
What are Slaters & How to Get Rid of Them
Slaters belong to the order Isopoda, which is part of the arthropod class Crustacea. This class mostly contains marine and freshwater aquatic animals such as shrimps, crabs and crayfish. This explains why slaters are such different looking animals to other garden invertebrates such as insects and spiders.
There are about 300 species of native slaters found in Australia and they usually occur in high rainfall areas, and are found under logs, rocks and leaf litter in bushland. Introduced species are common in urban and rural areas in the higher rainfall areas of the southern half of Australia. In gardens they are usually found under mulch or in compost bins.
In their native habitats, slaters are usually scavengers that feed on decaying organic matter. In that sense they are an important part of the decomposition cycle, meaning they help return nutrients to the soil. This explains why slaters are so common in compost bins, unfortunately pest slaters also feed on living plants.
Common pest slaters include the Garden Slater or woodlouse (Porcellio scaber) and the pillbug or butcher boy (Armadillidium vulgare).
Slaters have seven pairs of legs, two pairs of antennae (one pair is obvious, and the other pair is hidden), and eyes on each side of the head.
Adult Garden Slaters (Porcellio scaber) are grey-brown in colour, flattened, and up to 17 mm long. A pair of appendages known as uropods are usually seen extending from the rear. Garden Slaters feign death when threatened.
The Pillbug (Armadillidium vulgare) is dark grey or black, up to about 18 mm long, and has the appearance of being armour-plated. Pillbugs can roll into a tight ball for protection like an armadillo – Armadillidium literally means armadillo-like. In some countries Pillbugs are called roly- polys for obvious reasons. Pillbugs dont have visible uropods.
Juvenile slaters are initially translucent white with only 6 pairs of legs, but later in the life cycle grow the seventh pair and look like miniature adults.
Females lay eggs into a brood pouch, known as a marsupium, under their bodies. Females normally produce about 40 eggs per brood and lay 1 to 3 broods per year depending on the conditions. Eggs hatch within the marsupium and the young remain there for about 2 weeks. When the young emerge from the marsupium they pass through two moults before growing their seventh pair of legs.
The young continue to moult (and grow) every week or so for the next 4 to 5 months before reaching maturity. When slaters moult they dont shed their entire skin in one go. The rear half of the body sheds first, and the front half sheds a couple of days later. Adult slaters can live for two to five years.
What Plants are Impacted by Slaters
- Strawberry and other soft fruits (especially fruit touching the ground).
- Trailing plants such as cucumbers where the fruit is touching the ground.
- Foliage and roots of potted plants in greenhouses.
- Chunks chewed out of seedlings.
- Chunks chewed out of strawberries and cucumbers etc. at ground level.
- Missing seedlings.
Ficus Alii plant care tips
FAQ
How do I get rid of bugs on my ficus tree?
How can I get rid of Slaters?
What are the pests of the Ficus Alii?
What is a Ficus binnendijkii ‘alii’?
Ficus Binnendijkii ‘Alii’ (Long Leafed Weeping Fig) boasts glossy long leaves with a canopy reminiscent of a willow tree. A newer culitvar, the Ficus Alii can be a bit finicky like its cousin Ficus Benjamina, you may need to adjust their care from time to time.
Are Ficus alii easy to care for?
The Ficus Alii is very easy to care for, and they require much less care than their cousins. Although it is not a finicky plant, if the Ficus Alii doesn’t get enough water, it will start to shed its leaves. Being that this is not a plant you will find in nature if you are interested in adding one to your collection you will need to plan ahead.
What is a Ficus alii?
The ficus alii, or ficus binnendijkii, is a very unique variety of fig tree that you probably better recognize as the ‘banana leaf ficus.’ This type of fig tree is a very popular indoor decorative tree that also has the ability to throw out quite a lot of clean, fresh oxygen.
Do Ficus alii plants droop?
Under watered Ficus Alii plants will cause brittle leaves while one that is getting too much water will start to droop. It is easy to care for in every other regard. It is a good idea to repot your larger plants every other year. This is also a great time to consider propagating your ficus.