Oh, any ideas on how I can start milkweed in a pot? I can collect seeds with no problem. What is the best method for growing them from seed? If I can get them to grow in a pot then I can open the bottom of my butterfly enclosure to let them stay in the same container with less interference.

Milkweed generally prefers to be in the ground because it has such a long tap root and doesn't like to be transplanted once it is established. I tried growing milkweed in pots and it wasn't very successful. They got root bound very quickly. I had the same idea: putting in food that would grow as they ate it....

One good thing about milkweed is that the cuttings can be transplanted once roots start to appear or when new growth is appearing on the stem. I have started cutting stems to bring in for feeding my cats and make several new plants from the cuttings. I give some of these away to friends that are interested in starting a butterfly garden.

Mechelle

Yes, just cut back your long branches, stick it in water and wait for the roots to form. Remove all the bottom leaves beneath the water of course. It takes about two weeks to root, then transplant into a pot. When you are finished with the pot, put the plant into the ground. You can multiply your plants like this.

If you want to start from seed, put your seeds out in the fall and wait until after spring for them to come up. Most have to be thru the winter cold to sprout.

Good luck!

I'm a little confused... Are you asking if there's still time to get more of the milkweed plant going, or are you asking if there's still time to nurture some more cats to butterflies?

It's my first time trying and we have 13 cats and one crysalis going right now. I live in Nova Scotia, Canada, but I've decided it's not too late since last year we still had migrating Monarchs on the property in mid-October. Our last ones were spotted on October 21st. Our fall season is like an Indian Summer which lasts until the end of October, so that might be different for you.

Glad to see the responses on rooting cuttings!! I'll be doing some of those in the next week. It's hard to keep up with these fellas!

Hi--If you're going to keep raising them, you might want to bleach the enclosure since it sounds like you had a little virus problem (chrysalises turning black). I had that problem too this year.

I start seeds year-round, but then again, I live in Southern California. I DO grow my, initially, in smaller containers and then transplant them.

I hate to keep referring to my little blog, but check it out. It may help! Also check out the FAQs on our forum here. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: tdogmom's Monarch blog

hmm tdogmom, I was looking at your blog.. AWESOME! Oh, and yep that one was dead. I injected it with alcohol to preserve it and it is now part of the butterfly collection. The patch of milkweed I collected from has many of the symptoms you showed as problems. I will check a new area. I did have one butterfly that would just flutter to the ground. It had access to fresh flowers and the sugarwater mix. I gave it lots of chances then decided it was doomed. I gave it a special spot in my collection. I made an enclosure using metal rings and a soft white netting. It is 18 inches in diameter and about 5 feet long. It hangs in my office. I placed a dish in the bottom and have a jar in there to place fresh flowers for the new butterflies to land on. SInce the ends overlap, they cannot escape into the house. Once my cats go into chryssalis I hang them in the net enclosure. lots of flying room and easy to see.

Marie, sorry to hear about your Monarch chrys. dying. :( Sometimes, that happens. I agree that you really need to clean your cage really well, to prevent others from getting sick.

I have a feeling that your milkweed is native, and the seeds will need to overwinter to germinate. Alot of us plant the tropical milkweed, and it does not need cold stratification. Do you have any tropical milkweed seeds? You may want to try some. Your native milkweed may need to be pruned ocassionally, to encourage new growth.