nope I had a little bug problem and I keep the potato slices on top because some bugs will love them more then eating my roots. I take them off every 24 hours and put a new one on the soil. I also use diatomaceous earth Non-selective contact killer, DE is the fossilized remains of single-celled creatures called diatoms. Each fossil has sharp edges that irritate and lacerate soft-bodied insects. The DE material abrades the exoskeleton of insects, causing dehydration and death. Effective on almost all crawling insects. Insects cannot become immune and will die within 48 hours of contact. Safe around children, pets and wildlife. Long lasting, odorless, non-staining.
The shells provide nutrients and silica to the plants, and it's organic too.
3% magnesium, 33% silicon, 19% calcium, 5% sodium, 2% iron and many other trace minerals such as titanium, boron, manganese, copper and zirconium.