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Top Questions About Milkweed Plants

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Questions About Milkweed Plants

  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    April 30, 2019
    A.

    Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) can be propagated by cuttings or by seed. It is easy to propagate from cuttings.
    Clean soil should be used to root cuttings and a container for the soil (or foam root cubes) should be prepared. Soil should be watered well before cuttings are made.
    Ideally, cuttings will include three leaf nodes. A leaf node is the area on the stem where leaves grow.
    Leaves can be taken off the cutting or left on the cutting. If leaves stay too wet, they will begin to rot. This rot can infect the cutting and it may die. If leaves are not removed, do NOT allow leaves to stay wet.
    The cutting should be pushed half-way into the soil. If it is pressed to the bottom of the pot/soil, roots will not have as much space to grow.
    The cutting should be watered from the bottom, if possible.
    These should root quickly and they can then be moved into larger pots or into the ground.

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  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    May 3, 2019
    A.

    I live just south of you and given our weather, this sounds right! Everything is very slow to wake up.
    The weather is much warmer for the next days and forecast so you should start to see things green up and grow.
    Just a bit more patience is my recommendation!
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/milkweed/growing-butterfly-weed.htm

    I do have to say though that my Butterfly Weed only lasts about 2 to 3 years out here, then dies off. I have to restart every few years. We certainly should well be in the correct growing zone; but that's been the case for me for the last 11 years.

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  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    May 6, 2019
    A.

    Common milkweed spreads by rhizomes (underground runners or roots) which is why it can be such an aggressive spreader.
    Milkweed has a long tap root and does not do well in trying to transplant or divide.

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  • Answered by
    BushDoctor on
    May 7, 2019
    Certified Expert
    A.

    How about something that fixes nitrogen in the soil!? This will cut out quite a bit of care that would normally be needed. Here is an article that will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/what-are-legumes.htm

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  • Answered by
    firestomper on
    May 13, 2019
    A.

    Thank-you, was thinking clover this year, although a bean/pea crop would help with cost, however my fear there is deer and such would trample the milkweed.

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  • Answered by
    GKH_Susan on
    July 2, 2019
    Certified Expert
    A.

    Morning would be a good time before the day warms up. Be sure to harden off your plants before setting them out. Here are the instructions:
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/seeds/how-to-harden-off-your-seedlings.htm

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  • Answered by
    Downtoearthdigs on
    July 10, 2019
    A.

    This may be an issue with natural selection. Many insects, including caterpillars will be in a number so great that they could not possibly all survive. If they are all dying, and there are none left on the plant, then it would be a concern, but as long as some survive, then I would suspect this to be a natural occurrence.

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  • Answered by
    GKH_Susan on
    July 18, 2019
    Certified Expert
    A.

    Glad you are helping the monarchs! I grow milkweed too and have the same problem with aphids. Most of the time if I just wait it out, the ladybugs and other aphid predators will get them, and quickly too. If it really bothers you, try hosing them off, or pinching them off with a napkin. Be sure to have plants available that attract ladybugs like fennel, dill, marigolds and chives. Also, I don't see aphids as much on asclepias tuberosa (orange butterfly weed).

    Here is more info on attracting ladybugs:
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/attract-ladybugs.htm

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