Help for Milkweed

Hi Friends,

I'm going to post this on the butterfly forum too.

Okay - here's the scenario. I've been alternating milkweeds into the butterfly cage for the cats to munch on and now all but 2 are pupating. I've removed 2 of my 'devoured' plants and want to bring them back to life for the next go round. Here's what they look like. What is the best way to encourage new growth and get them full again (besides repotting....that will happen tomorrow)? Do I need to cut even the devoured stems back?

I would cut them back to three or four nodes, they grow back fast, and you can root the cuttings too.
Josephine,

Thanks, Jospehine.

What is the best method to root?


Kristi

I usually root them in the regular rooting mix, and keep them well watered in the shade, we have had some root in water, but it takes longer.

Wonderful....I'll try it! I want to blanket my yard with lot's of it.

Yes, that is a good idea, they are so pretty and all those butterflies are such a blessing. Most of my milkweeds got killed with the freeze, and i am having to start over from seed, but they are coming along.

Would you like cuttings, once they take root?

Oh Kristi, you are so sweet to offer, but I do have a lot of seedings coming along, and shipping plants is a pain and too expensive. Thank you for thinking of me.
Josephine.

K, whatever you do....don't cut to the woody part, it sometimes doesn't grow back or it takes forever.
That is one munched down plant!

And, when you bring it back in the cage, be sure and check for spiders, especially those camo crab spiders....they can really hide.

I haven't figured out what to do about the ants that get in the soil, they could be a problem.

For the July 21 swap etc I will have plenty of seeds for that milkweed. They are on their second flowering and the seed pods are plentiful so I would probably have lots of plants, too.

Ann

hi sometimes mine get so big i just cut em off and just stick em in the ground with no special care... but they do like to be wet, they will wilt very quickly, but after a few days they look like they are taking hold... i also just let a few of them go to seed and the wind blows seeds whereever.. i always get akick out of where they will seed themselves.... sometimes i get overrun with em .. but now that i see where we may have a swap meet, can start saving seeds too.
take care

I have lots of baby milkweed sprouting up all over. I'll bring some to the swap, but they won't be big enough to help knolan's problem, probably even then. I just keep going to Buchanan's and buying more milkweed. My current plants look like knolan's - we've fed some cats this year, haven't we?

Oh yes! I have 2 pupating that will open tmorrow! WooHoo! And there's seven more to go and I think 3 or 4 more cats munching away.

I'm trying to get more swallowtails. Need to go to the garden center and look at their dill and parsley....see if I can find some babies.

Enchanted Forest knows me on a first name basis. We go amost every weekend and buy the milkweed that we find the cats on.

Do you have a Houston Garden Center near you? That's where I found 5 BSTs on these pitiful Dill plants and they were almost ready to pupate, now they have and it's been about 6 days. I'm so excited!

I sure do! I just haven't gotten the chance to get there.

GO as soon as you get up tomorrow! LOL

Heehee...

I had a pitiful little parsley plant with the prettiest cat on it! I just started growing parsley and dill over the winter to see what would happen. I was so excited!
I'll head to the closest Houston Garden Center for more dill - with the bonus of eggs and cats - what a bargain :)

Is Enchanted Forest in Sugarland, knolan? I've been known to go on lonnnngggg excursions to new garden centers and quilt shops!

Bookworm, Enchanted Forest is actually in Booth. If you want to drive to Sugar Land, I'll be happy to drive you to Booth. It's really only about twenty minutes from my house and I'm always looking for an excuse to go. Dmail me your schedule and we can see what we can come up with. I make a weekly visit these days. There's also Enchanted Garden in Richmond which is a little closer but not quite as big.

Quilting, heh? Quilter's Emporium is a mile from me. You should see the quilts my MIL has made for us. They are pieces of art! She made one for me last Christmas called ''O Blessed Beloved' based on the Rudyard Kipling story. She even embroidered some of the poem into the quilt with gold thread. It has beautiful elephants all over it. Ahh....I shouldn't get started on her quilts. But remind me and I'll tell of her 9/11 quilt.

Oh... I know QE! I have a quilt group that drives out there regularly - and I go with them as I can! Your MIL sounds like a true quilt artist! I'd love to hear more about her quilts.

Sounds like a road trip is in order! I don't know where Booth is, so you'll have to show me. I've driven out to Tomball to go to The Arbor Gate, and Sugarland is MUCH closer! So glad to know of another place I've GOT to go! I won't tell DH you told me about it, though!

A kindred soul! I drove to Arbor Gate last month with my great friend on DG and we had the best time. Sometimes, the drive just doesn't matter. BTW - if you love Arbor gate......I promise that you will love Enchanted Forest just as well.

ssshhhh....we won't tell your DH.

my swallowtails love the fennel that I have planted. They have eaten it all up this year so far.

It's a deal knolan... but we'd better whisper for sure... I do love Arbor Gate and can't wait to see Enchanted Forest!

I have all this fennel just waiting for some cats! Tell them Houston is waiting for them renatelynne...