I know Enemy’s of butterflies - (main predators), adult butterflies also have to contend with spiders, wasps, dragonflies, robber flies and crickets. But no mention of ants, bees, & those Milkweed - orange, & black bugs. Are any of these harmful to butterfly EGGS?
Milkweed bugs will eat monarch eggs as well as the larvae. They also eat aphids so aren't totally without merit.
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=31352
The question is specific to cedar mulch.
Well, that is the only thing they eat so I buy extra plants, knowing that some will be eaten and look sad but hopefully not all of them. Works some years and not so well in others. Have you considered cutting milkweed back when the butterflies are en masse feeding? Or growing milkweed in pots (temporarily bring them inside when they butterflies are passing through).
I live in SD CA area. what milkweed variety is appropriate? What "nursery plant" is necessary for food of newly hatched insects? Those 2 points are never addressed on other sites, even US gov't sites. Would a small garden of 2-3 plants, or less, supply enough accomodation of plants or is a "meadow" size, or large beneficial? I have a small yard
This article should help. The California Native Plant Society lists native milkweed plants and sources for them.
https://calscape.org/loc-California/Milkweed%20(all)/vw-list/np-0
Any size space devoted to butterfly plants will help. It can even be a few plants in containers if that is all the space that is available. Host plants for the butterfly eggs and caterpillars plus nectar plants for the adult butterflies. Here are more sources that should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/plants-for-butterfly-eggs.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-nectar.htm
I planted a couple of milkweed butterfly plants and they now have pods on them. I just moved to Texas a year ago from Illinois so I am trying my hand at gardening here. Much longer growing season that is for sure. At what point do I remove the pods or do I just leave them to reseed themselves? Do I also need to cut the plant back so it will continue to flower for the butterfly?
If you want it to reseed, you will need to leave the pods until they complete the cycle. If you would like more flowers for butterflies, you will need to sacrifice these seed pods and cut the flowers after they die, but before seed pods form.
Here are some articles that will help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/milkweed
How many plants per container? Can I put more than one in each container?
This depends on the size container. I would only do 1 plant per 5 gallon pot. Eventually, it will self seed and become unmanageable, so division back to a single plant will be necessary from time to time.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/milkweed
I want to plant milkweed but need to know what kind to grow in Idaho and where I can obtain the seeds
We do not recommend specific places for purchase, unfortunately. I could recommend trying local nurseries, or online!
In the meantime, we have plenty of articles that will help you to grow the plant:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/milkweed
I have native milkweed and several "store bought" milkweed plants in my garden. I want to do what's best for these precious insects. Someone told me that the commercially produced milkweed varieties actually kill monarchs rather than provide a place to breed and lay eggs.
I wouldn't see an issue unless the commercially purchased plants were sprayed with pesticides, or systemics beforehand. Other than this, they should be just fine.
Here are some articles that will help you with Milkweed care:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/milkweed