I've only been growing Milkweed (Scarlet variety) for a little over 2 years. Somewhere I read that older MW does not attract Monarchs as much as younger MW plants. I remember reading somewhere - something about the toxin build-up in an older plant. Is there any truth to this? And if so, should I dig up my established MW and replant with younger MW to continue to attract Monarchs to my yard. I am definitely noticing the Monarchs going for my younger plants vs. the older plants. Most of my older MW is like a large bush and they have all been cut back and have re-sprouted new leaves and new growth, so it's not old leaves on these plants. Or could it be something else like PH of the soil or the fertilizer that I am using? Any information about this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Established Milkweed Question
I don't know Becky, my Monarchs seem to like the older plants that are close to blossoming. They go there first and take the younger plant second to plant their eggs on.
Maggie
I think mainly they are attracted to a good size of healthy plant with fairly fresh foliage. And a larger number of plants is better, especially for egg-laying females.
I did read somewhere that the BFs liked the tender shoots.
Also if you have different varieties of MW planted some monarchs prefer one kind over another, depending on what varieties, what the cats were raised on, how much sun is hitting them, that sort of thing...
Well, I have to eat my words!
I watched this morning as a Monarch was laying eggs all over just about every Milkweed in my front and back yard. The older Milkweed that I have are like bushes. I have to trim them back several times a year because they just get too big. I had no idea when I planted them that they would be bush-like. I now plant new ones with more room around them to allow their branches to spread.
I think the wasps are getting my baby Monarch cats again. So I am going to be checking on Tuesday and Wednesday when this new group of eggs begin to hatch. I need to get them before the wasps do!
Several days ago, a black swallowtail laid eggs all over my dill. So I snatched up all the babies when they hatched and have them in a cage. The female hasn't been back since to lay more eggs. (Probably the end of her life cycle.)
And the Gulf Fritillaries have been very busy mating and lay eggs. I have one particular maypop vine that is so scraggly looking. For some reason the GF prefer to lay their eggs on this one plant. There are 2 taller ones right next to it. I have 10 of them against the back yard fence, but they keep laying their eggs on the same pathetic vine. (They are all from the same fruit seed pod. Go figure!) This poor vine has been trying to grow all summer/fall and just keeps getting eaten back by the cats. LOL!
Here is a weird question. I had a dill plant that the BS loved. It died down, but seems to have grown again from seed that dropped. The plant smells like dill and tastes somewhat of dill but is much bushier and isn't forming heads like dill does. I have not seen any BF's on or near it. Any ideas? Karen
I wonder if the bees cross-pollinated it with another plant? Or perhaps it is the fertilizer or PH level. I do know that butterflies are particular to even their own host plants. I have been seeing that recently, but the Monarchs are now laying eggs on the older plants, too. BS are really picky about their host plants. I have seen the cats climb off a host plant to go to another of the same type plant for whatever reason.