Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Keeping milkweed leaves fresh in Monarch cat crate, 1 by Sheila_FW

Sheila_FW wrote:
I hate the wilted leaves too. I cut single leaves from the middle or lower part of the plant, unless I am feeding first or second instars. They need the small tender leaves. I use a pail of water to collect the leaves in so they have water immediately. When I get them rinsed, I blot them between paper towels briefly. If you have gathered more than was needed put them in the refrigerator in a zip loc bag.

I use the bottom 1/2" of pudding cups for a water reservoir. I cut wafers of the wet floral foam and then use the plastic cup like cookie cutters. I make a lot up and set them aside. When I need one I put it under the water and over-fill it; then cover it with Glad press n seal. It won't leak, and as it dries out you can hold it under the tap and refill it throught the holes where the leaves are put. Each time you add leaves, make NEW holes. This keeps the foam touching the stem if it is smaller than the previous one.

You will get a feel for how many leaves the cats require. Be prepared to feed twice a day minimum. At least once a day empty the frass (poo) from the cage.

One other thing I might mention is the need for a finer mesh than even tule netting. One DG person had a whole group of cats wiped out when a microscopic wasp was able to get into the cage to them.

Here is a set up of my Monarch cages. I group like sizes together and start thinning them as they increase in size. Three last instar pupate very easily in the containers.