Comments on: The Tropical Milkweed http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/ Learning a savanna in Panama, plant by plant Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:13:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mary http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-6849 mary Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:27:15 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-6849 Great information, Mary, and thanks very much for getting back. Good luck with your plants - it does sound like you have a good chance for success. Thanks again! Mary Great information, Mary, and thanks very much for getting back. Good luck with your plants – it does sound like you have a good chance for success. Thanks again! Mary

]]> By: Mary Palmer http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-6847 Mary Palmer Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:28:54 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-6847 Hi, me again. I got the "brilliant" idea of calling the director of the nature center--she was the one who gave us the milkweed plants. Well, she told me various things. One is that the same species of plant WILL grow to different heights, depending on so many things such as sunlight, soil condition, etc. Sometimes the tap root can get blocked by a rock or a clay layer in the soil, and that can stunt the growth. (Also, my husband only took as much of the tap root as he could get, which wasn't the entire piece; that could stunt it until the root has a chance to grow more.) She did encourage me not to give up on my milkweed plants. She told me that they also reproduce vegetatively, as well as by seed, so next year I should have a few more milkweed plants near the ones that are already there. She said that even the one that apparantly died may still have live roots that will come up next year. So...here's hoping! I do so much want to attract Monarch butterflies to my garden and provide them what they need in order to reproduce. Hi, me again. I got the “brilliant” idea of calling the director of the nature center–she was the one who gave us the milkweed plants. Well, she told me various things. One is that the same species of plant WILL grow to different heights, depending on so many things such as sunlight, soil condition, etc. Sometimes the tap root can get blocked by a rock or a clay layer in the soil, and that can stunt the growth. (Also, my husband only took as much of the tap root as he could get, which wasn’t the entire piece; that could stunt it until the root has a chance to grow more.) She did encourage me not to give up on my milkweed plants. She told me that they also reproduce vegetatively, as well as by seed, so next year I should have a few more milkweed plants near the ones that are already there. She said that even the one that apparantly died may still have live roots that will come up next year. So…here’s hoping! I do so much want to attract Monarch butterflies to my garden and provide them what they need in order to reproduce.

]]> By: Mary Palmer http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-6846 Mary Palmer Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:14:29 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-6846 Great idea. I will ask, the next time we are in Cape May. It's a distance from us; it could possibly be a day trip, but I find you need to stay at the very least overnight to have time to do much of anything--and a two-night stay is even better! There are many wonderful Victorian bed-and-breakfast inns in Cape May, and I would love any excuse to go back to one of them! ;- ) If I get an answer, I will definitely post it. Re: growing conditions for the common milkweed, it seems to me they grow taller and better when they are growing untended in some weedy field, but I could be wrong about that. Great idea. I will ask, the next time we are in Cape May. It’s a distance from us; it could possibly be a day trip, but I find you need to stay at the very least overnight to have time to do much of anything–and a two-night stay is even better! There are many wonderful Victorian bed-and-breakfast inns in Cape May, and I would love any excuse to go back to one of them! ;- ) If I get an answer, I will definitely post it. Re: growing conditions for the common milkweed, it seems to me they grow taller and better when they are growing untended in some weedy field, but I could be wrong about that.

]]> By: mary http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-6842 mary Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:30:50 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-6842 Mary, Thank you for your interesting comment as well as for your kind words. I'm not sure that I can answer your question about whether your plant will continue to grow. As you probably know, individual plants in the species can reach 6 feet in height, but height depends on so much - fertility of the soil, rainfall, sunlight, competing species in the area, and so on. I have the vaguest recollection from my childhood that I did see individual plants taller from one year to the next, but my memory is probably the most unreliable thing in the universe. The nature center in Cape May could give you a much better answer than I can, so next time you're there, be sure to ask. And post the answer here if you have a chance! Mary, Thank you for your interesting comment as well as for your kind words. I’m not sure that I can answer your question about whether your plant will continue to grow. As you probably know, individual plants in the species can reach 6 feet in height, but height depends on so much – fertility of the soil, rainfall, sunlight, competing species in the area, and so on. I have the vaguest recollection from my childhood that I did see individual plants taller from one year to the next, but my memory is probably the most unreliable thing in the universe. The nature center in Cape May could give you a much better answer than I can, so next time you’re there, be sure to ask. And post the answer here if you have a chance!

]]> By: Mary Palmer http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-6841 Mary Palmer Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:17:12 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-6841 Three years after you first posted, I am finding great information on your site. I love monarch butterflies. I live in Ocean County, NJ, and like you, as a kid I was used to the tall common milkweed with large pods. I am not aware of ever having seen the flowers, though--I guess I didn't notice them till the fascinating pods developed with their silky "parachutes"! When my husband and I visited the nature center in Cape May, NJ this past spring, they were re-planting their rain garden and had many more common milkweed plants than they needed so they allowed my husband to dig up two of the plants. We have a very shady garden (thanks to our neighbors' trees!) but we planted each plant in the two sunniest spots we could find in our backyard gardens. One plant died quickly. The other bloomed very nicely but later looked kind of powdery and sickly. I was surprised that the plant really didn't grow much in height and was pretty short, maybe two feet tall. I was further surprised yesterday, when I found a similar common milkweed plant in one of my front gardens! I realized that until lately I really had no idea what the leaves or flowers of the common milkweed look like, and I have probably had them growing before in my garden without realizing it! My question is: Since these plants are perennials, will they grow a little taller each year, till they are tall enough to support the big pods I am used to? Thanks for your help. Three years after you first posted, I am finding great information on your site. I love monarch butterflies. I live in Ocean County, NJ, and like you, as a kid I was used to the tall common milkweed with large pods. I am not aware of ever having seen the flowers, though–I guess I didn’t notice them till the fascinating pods developed with their silky “parachutes”! When my husband and I visited the nature center in Cape May, NJ this past spring, they were re-planting their rain garden and had many more common milkweed plants than they needed so they allowed my husband to dig up two of the plants. We have a very shady garden (thanks to our neighbors’ trees!) but we planted each plant in the two sunniest spots we could find in our backyard gardens. One plant died quickly. The other bloomed very nicely but later looked kind of powdery and sickly. I was surprised that the plant really didn’t grow much in height and was pretty short, maybe two feet tall. I was further surprised yesterday, when I found a similar common milkweed plant in one of my front gardens! I realized that until lately I really had no idea what the leaves or flowers of the common milkweed look like, and I have probably had them growing before in my garden without realizing it! My question is: Since these plants are perennials, will they grow a little taller each year, till they are tall enough to support the big pods I am used to? Thanks for your help.

]]> By: mary http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-475 mary Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:38:27 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-475 Carlos, Thanks for this information! You're doing great work, despite the Miami climate. The Live Monarch site is a fine resource. Thanks again. Carlos,

Thanks for this information! You’re doing great work, despite the Miami climate. The Live Monarch site is a fine resource.

Thanks again.

]]> By: Carlos http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-474 Carlos Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:24:41 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-474 I found another site that is excellent and the prices are very resoanble. They seem to be a non profit foundation of some kind to gain more milkweed for monarch survival. They will provide seeds and small cutings that will become big pants with in short month. My problem have been the heat of Miami. I have need to plant this pants in part shade until they get established. One need to watch the plants close for wilting here in Miami until they get stablished. Also if one waters them every day, the Milkweed will only grow very shallow roots never or very slowly planting their roots very deep in the soil looking for water. If the roots are too shallow not only they do not stay up too well but they take longer to stablish because they do not gaing to the deeper roots they will need to survive. http://www.livemonarch.com I have had several generations of caterpillers and monarch butterflies since my first post a few month ago. A total of about 50 butterflies altogether. I found another site that is excellent and the prices are very resoanble. They seem to be a non profit foundation of some kind to gain more milkweed for monarch survival. They will provide seeds and small cutings that will become big pants with in short month.

My problem have been the heat of Miami. I have need to plant this pants in part shade until they get established. One need to watch the plants close for wilting here in Miami until they get stablished. Also if one waters them every day, the Milkweed will only grow very shallow roots never or very slowly planting their roots very deep in the soil looking for water. If the roots are too shallow not only they do not stay up too well but they take longer to stablish because they do not gaing to the deeper roots they will need to survive.

http://www.livemonarch.com

I have had several generations of caterpillers and monarch butterflies since my first post a few month ago. A total of about 50 butterflies altogether.

]]> By: Carlos http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Carlos Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:59:58 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-160 Actually they did turn out to be monarc caterpillers. I had to run a buy larger plants and since I have had about 3 generations of about 20+ larvas survive become pupas and become butterflies. I am surprised that in Panama you have had no ativities. I am getting attached by monarc from every which way. Some time I have to take my milkweeds and hide them away from the yard. The last time all 6 Tropical milkweed I have were eaten to the bare trunk and they are now getting new growth, but I have had to scare the monarcs away to keep them from laying more eggs on my plants. I can only guess that there is a lack of milkweed in Miami Florida or else they wouldn't be so desperate to lay on my milkweed. I have not been able to get them to flower because the monarcs ate the whoooooooooole thing!!!. Actually they did turn out to be monarc caterpillers. I had to run a buy larger plants and since I have had about 3 generations of about 20+ larvas survive become pupas and become butterflies. I am surprised that in Panama you have had no ativities. I am getting attached by monarc from every which way. Some time I have to take my milkweeds and hide them away from the yard. The last time all 6 Tropical milkweed I have were eaten to the bare trunk and they are now getting new growth, but I have had to scare the monarcs away to keep them from laying more eggs on my plants. I can only guess that there is a lack of milkweed in Miami Florida or else they wouldn’t be so desperate to lay on my milkweed. I have not been able to get them to flower because the monarcs ate the whoooooooooole thing!!!.

]]> By: miconia http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-159 miconia Mon, 26 May 2008 17:49:23 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-159 Hi Carlos, Thanks for noting your interesting observations. I don't know the answer to your questions because I have yet to see a Monarch butterfly in our Tropical Milkweed plants here in Panama. Keep up the observations and I hope you find the answer yourself. Mary Hi Carlos,

Thanks for noting your interesting observations. I don’t know the answer to your questions because I have yet to see a Monarch butterfly in our Tropical Milkweed plants here in Panama.

Keep up the observations and I hope you find the answer yourself.

Mary

]]> By: Carlos http://ntsavanna.com/the-tropical-milkweed/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Carlos Wed, 21 May 2008 00:40:36 +0000 http://ntsavanna.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/the-tropical-milkweed/#comment-158 About two month ago, I took some cutting from a Tropical Milkweed that was growing in a canal in North Dade Miami and I started rooting them in water in 2 weeks my first cutting with two 1/2 in roots, I placed them on a cup with dirt. and a week later I took it outside start to aclimate them to the outside. They were out there for short of a week. A few days ago in the afternoon, I saw a Monark flying around and flierting with the cutting but never sat on the leafs long enought. I saw it go back and forward and fly around it for about 15 minutes... Finally I think she left or I went inside (I can't remeber) or both. Today about 5 days later I go and look at the plant and I saw some holes on the leafs. When I look under the leaf, I saw some very very tiny caterpillers, about 5 of them. They can not be very big I almost didn't notice them. Some are smaller and appear brownish and the two bigger are a little greener. The plant is about 7 inch tall, and it has a total of 8 leafs different sizes and two sets of 4 each flowers and some more growth of leaf inbetween the flowers. Would this be monark caterpillers?I don't remeber ever seeing them. These seem so tiny (almost unnoticable) and there seem to be not many leafs for this plant for the caterpiller to survive. Unless the inside leafs start growing very quickly. Do you think the might be cats from a monark? or do other smaller butterflies lay eggs on Tropical Milkweed? and will the plants put out those leafs fast enought for those caterpillar to eat and survide to butterflys. I imagen About two month ago, I took some cutting from a Tropical Milkweed that was growing in a canal in North Dade Miami and I started rooting them in water in 2 weeks my first cutting with two 1/2 in roots, I placed them on a cup with dirt. and a week later I took it outside start to aclimate them to the outside. They were out there for short of a week.

A few days ago in the afternoon, I saw a Monark flying around and flierting with the cutting but never sat on the leafs long enought. I saw it go back and forward and fly around it for about 15 minutes… Finally I think she left or I went inside (I can’t remeber) or both.

Today about 5 days later I go and look at the plant and I saw some holes on the leafs. When I look under the leaf, I saw some very very tiny caterpillers, about 5 of them. They can not be very big I almost didn’t notice them. Some are smaller and appear brownish and the two bigger are a little greener. The plant is about 7 inch tall, and it has a total of 8 leafs different sizes and two sets of 4 each flowers and some more growth of leaf inbetween the flowers.

Would this be monark caterpillers?I don’t remeber ever seeing them. These seem so tiny (almost unnoticable) and there seem to be not many leafs for this plant for the caterpiller to survive. Unless the inside leafs start growing very quickly.

Do you think the might be cats from a monark? or do other smaller butterflies lay eggs on Tropical Milkweed? and will the plants put out those leafs fast enought for those caterpillar to eat and survide to butterflys. I imagen

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