Tho' you posted a year ago I am ready for this information NOW. The seeds (both common and swamp) survived the greenhouse (outdoor temps hitting 30C....greenhouse now an oven)......seedlings went in the ground yesterday (many seedlings for hedge effect). This vid calmed all my concerns and I shall sit back and enjoy whatever happens. Please let it be the best outcome for my highest intentions. Cheers from south central BC!
They do get covered in aphids but squishing them in your finger as soon as they are discovered takes care of them pretty well and thankfully, I didn’t have a second wave of them. I’m planting more tuberosa this year as well as swamp milkweed - I’m in eastern Nebraska zone 5
Grow other things that attract wasps. Wasps eat the aphids. Also watch to see that ants aren't farming the aphids on the milkweed. They actually place them on it AND keep the things that eat them away because they farm the "dew" from the bugs. I made DIY ant bait in upcycled glass jars with holes drilled into the caps and used a borax sugar mix (google it) and poof no more aphids!
I have this plant tuberosa in my front yard near my house in our small garden and the monarch’s love it. I’ve had several come and sit on them for awhile. It’s so cool. Monarchs are my favorite ..
I am growing these in my butterfly feeding station. I came here because I’m trying to recognize them as youngsters out in the wild. I believe a found a patch. I never see my own because I forgot to place a net over them and they’re eaten to the ground by the monarch caterpillar before I see much of anything. I have been snipping off leaves of my suspect weed to find a milky sap, so I believe I’m on the right trail!! Thank u
Good for you! They are much loved by many insects. Yes, as young plants they are a little tricky but the leaves evenly spaced up and around the hairy stems is fairly characteristic. They really like open sun with sandy or light soils.
Congrats on the seedlings. If they are getting big for the containers they are now in you should probably repot them. They will add a fair amount of size over a month which will help when transplanting them outside. 👍
Sounds like you live in a nice area. Butterfly weed can be quite abundant where growing conditions are right for it. It has spread quite a bit on our sandy soils in just a few years. 😊
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I'm in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in zone 6 for agriculture growing. I know you are much colder for longer but the butterfly plant looks the same as ours. I'm going to start calling a the few nurseries around here to see if I can locate some. The best I can understand is that I can plant now but they prefer to go through a winter and then do better the following Spring. They used to grow wild around here but haven't seen any lately. Thanks again and many blessings during the growing season. The weather here has been breath taking lately. :^) p
Yes, I would think you should be able to find some at local nurseries. And you are correct that the first year not much will likely happen and then the following year you’ll get a much improved growth of flowers. It sounds like you are getting lots of wild weather down that way with thunderstorms and tornadoes.
@@hervedelnorte7928 Yes, we have had some tornadoes in the state but none have hit our area in North Central AR. We've been on the edges of several but only received bad winds. No up rooted trees in a long while but they do sneak up on you so it's good to be prepared to be "out of the body and present with the Lord" at any given moment. This winter was bad and both my beautiful wisteria vines failed to leaf or bloom. I thought they were dead but there is still green where I've checked. So thankful for that. My crepe myrtles look bad too but will recover with an appropriate. pruning. Plenty to keep me busy until a Fall planting of milkweed. Do be safe and blessed in your garden surroundings. The times they are a changing. pb
I have 30 seedlings that came from seeds I collected from our only butterfly weed. I’m wondering about the best way to keep them growing. Should I repot at a certain height or wait until I can plant them outdoors? We have about a month before frost free weather. Thx for your video on this outstanding plant!
I have two plants that I planted a couple of years ago that are growing and had so many blooms this year. Last night I was weeding and I noticed something has been eating the flowers! I also saw a monarch caterpillar (yay!) on one of the stems for the first time this season. We have tons of deer but I do spray with Deer Out which is organic but haven't sprayed these plants because I didn't think deer would eat them. Do you know what could be eating the flowers? I was so so sad and disappointed because they have just bloomed out in the past week or so and are so beautiful!
Hi Cindy, I don’t know if the monarch caterpillars might be eating the flowers. They do eat milkweeds of course and this is a milkweed. I’m not sure I’ve seen monarch caterpillars eating the leaves of my butterfly milk weed. I have seen monarch caterpillars eat leaves of another milkweed I grow called tropical milk weed. But it’s leaves are smooth whereas the native plant has hairy leaves. Other than that it might be things like chipmunks perhaps but not sure. May want to just try putting a protective cage or other barrier around the plant. This year we’ve had all kinds of things eating our plants and even many of my perennials.
I'm planting two butterfly weed roots today. I have heavy clay soil and plan to add peat moss, vermiculite, and a little compost to amend the soil. Does that sound okay?
Hi Patricia, yes I think that sounds fine. The main thing to do is to get your soil loose and airy. Try to mimic sand as best you can. I would try to amend The soil out from where you plant the plant probably at least a foot in each direction to give it a good room to grow.
I'm hopeful to get my butterfuly garden going this year but I cannot find out exactly what time would be best to plant them. I 've been ill and feeling better so had a spot cleared off so I can begin planting. Now I cannot seem to find any. I don't want to start from seed and would like to buy some in gallon or half-gallon pots. Should the nurseries have them now or should I plan on waiting to plant in Fall. Wish I didn't have such a brown thumb. Glad the Monarchs don't have to depend on me! Thanks for input. Blessings, p
Hello. Not sure where you are located but here in Canada the garden centres will get most Perennial plants on sale in late April and May. You should be able to find some for sale then and throughout the summer. Once they are established in your garden, they actually are slow to emerge in spring - usually in mid to late May ( here at least and I suspect sooner further south).
