Hey guys, I have been blessed with so far 36 Monarch cats with eggs still on the plants. My question is, and I know this has been covered before but I am becoming panicked, how to keep the milkweed from wilting so quickly. I know last year I did something and it stayed fresh for several days. I use the floral foam, wet, with foil wrapped around it. I have also singed the bottom of the stalks where I cut them off the plant. Is there anything else to do to keep them from getting wilted? I have every size cat you can imagine and once the plant wilts and then dries up it is very hard to find the smaller cats on the stalk. Also I need the leaves to last longer in the cage or I am going to run out of food for these guys. Any help is always appreciated.
I love these little guys, they are my favorite. Last year I had 13 and all left my home safe and sound and I was really proud of myself. This year is going to be a bit more of a challenge with so many but I am more than happy to raise them.
Thanks again DG'ers.
Leslie
Limp Milkweed????
C'mon guys, I know someone has an answer for this. Maybe my topic headline was not worded the greatest. LOL.
Leslie
Ok, here is your answer........take a cutting with several leaves on it, remove the bottom leaf and any flower buds on top, then sear the end of the stem well with a lighter, place the stem in whatever you are using to hydrate the stem at home and keep it moist at all times. I tried this experiment well over a week ago and at this point the stem is now growing roots.
Good Luck
Thanks so much Datura. Growing roots. That is awesome. That is what I have been doing now and it seems to be working pretty well but they still get kind of limp. Of course I don't expect them to live forever. However, when you singe the bottom like that can you cut the singed part off and replant as some people say you can and expect it to grow anything? That would be great too.
Thanks again very much.
Leslie
Why do you sear it?
Singeing stops the milkweed from flowing its milk, dehydrating it. It may droop the first day and a half but after that it gets straight again. I didn't expect it to root, that was a bonus. You wouldn't to cut it again, just keep it in water. I got the idea from poppies as that is the way to treat them before using them as cut flowers. Whodda thunk it worked!
not me, I would have thought the opposite! Cool. I'll have to try it.
I would never guess they would root after singeing. I think I just threw those away but have tried to replant the ones I have not seared. I am desparately needing this milkweed with my 50 cats and more eggs and the migration having not come through yet. This is going to be a busy fall, but so worth it. I love these guys.
Leslie