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Monday - November 02, 2009
From: Burnet, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Propagation, Wildlife Gardening
Title: Propagating milkweeds for a monarch butterfly habitat
Author: Sean Watson and Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am planting a monarch habitat in Burnet, Tx with Antelope horns, Green milkweed, and butterfly weed. Should I plant in fall or spring??? Should I use cold moist stratification for 3 months at 40 degrees in sand on all three types of milkweed or just antelope horns. Is is better to plant in peat pots or clay pots over the winter and then transplant in spring around March???ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants assumes that the following are the milkweeds you want to grow in your monarch habitat:
Asclepias asperula (antelope horns), Asclepias viridis (green antelopehorn), Asclepias viridiflora (green comet milkweed) and Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
To learn the best method for propagting these, Mr. Smarty Plants consulted Sean Watson, the Wildflower Center nursery manager who offered this advice for you:
I have never had trouble with milkweeds germinating (no stratification needed). If you use the freshest seed possible, sow them in a tall pot or seed flat with deep cells to start them (room for taproots), and keep them moist until you see the first pair of true leaves, you should have great success. You could then transplant them into a larger clay pot to overwinter (clay pots would be best since they breathe) and then transplant them into the ground in the Spring. It would be best to cover the flat/pot with a clear plastic container to act as a greenhouse if you want to start them now. After transplanting them into the clay pot and/or ground, water in thoroughly and then allow to dry out slightly between watering from that point until established (they like to rot once the taproot begins to get larger/fleshy since at this point the roots hold more water so the plant needs less). Just make sure the final site is well drained.
You would have much better success, however, if you wait until February to start them so you can transplant them out in early spring (that way the root system is able to develop more before the next winter). In either case, making a mini greenhouse will allow for greater germination percentage because of increased humidity (I use an aquarium at home). The most important thing seems to be giving the taproots room to grow. ALL milkweeds I have ever grown have always grown much better in the taller gallon pots/or tall tree pots than the shorter, square 4-inch pots. They seem to grow much better when started in early to mid spring (i.e. they love heat).
More on Plant Propagation from Mr. Smarty Plants
Question: November 14, 2009 - I have several Turk's cap plants but most do not produce seed. Any ideas? They have been in place 5 plus years.
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Question: November 09, 2009 - I'm trying to locate seeds or plants of Viguiera Dentata, but have been unsuccessful. With the poliferation of these beautiful flowers this fall, I don't understand why I can't locate them. Do you have any suggestions as to where I might find them?
Thanks!
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Question: November 03, 2009 - Hello. I would love to know how to propagate the American Beauty (Texas Location) as I think it is most gorgeous. We lost most of our shrubs/plants in Ike and are replacing them. If I do these from seeds, what is the procedure to follow? Can I just put it in the soil as is, will it root this way?
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