Tropical Milkweed
Monarch Butterfly Favorite

Tropical Milkweed is my other favorite milkweed. It is grown as an annual except in the warmer climates.

I am trying a new method this year of starting the Tropical Milkweed seeds.

It was quite a bit faster....these seeds can be slow to germinate.

I used a plastic sandwich container - the kind you buy at the grocery store, i.e. Glad, etc. and put a folded damp paper towel in it.

I opened the paper towel and put the seeds in between, so they are covered with the damp paper towel. I forgot to soak the seeds, but it didn't seem to matter.

I put the cover on the container and placed it someplace warm. This could be the top of the refrigerator, on an electric blanket/mat, or I put it on the floor near a heat register.

They germinated in about a week or two, which is faster than when planted in the soil (which is harder to keep warm).

Make sure and check them during this time....my paper towels were too wet. There was some water sitting in the bottom of the container, so I emptied the excess water and resealed the container.

After the seeds germinated, I planted them in peat pots, both small pots and six packs. It is easiest to use a tweezer or something to handle the sprouted seeds which are very small.

Then I put them under the fluorescent lights. I will keep you updated and try to post some pictures of this process.

The process below also works, but please note that the Jiffy 7 peat pellets do not disintegrate in the garden, so I will not be using them again. I am trying the peat pots this year, but regular 6 packs work fine, also.

NOTE: I just got a tip from a reader on the Jiffy 7 peat pellets. When you are ready to plant the the Jiffy 7s, let them dry out a little and you can remove the mesh before you plant them.

• Monarch's favorite plant in my garden for egg-laying.
• Very easy to grow from seed....purchase seeds here.
• Attractive and neat (height 2-3' width 1-2').
• Covered with yellow-orange flowers in summer.
• Nectar plant for many butterflies.

STARTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEEDS:

	Soak milkweed seeds overnight.
	Plant milkweed seeds in Jiffy 7 peat pellets....SEE INFORMATION AND NOTE ABOVE.....Keep warm on top of fridge or electric mat/blanket. Theses seeds need warmth to germinate.
	Place under florescent shop lights when seedlings emerge. Keep within 2" of lights as they grow.
Transplant Jiffy 7s with seedling to pot or plastic cup with hole in bottom.

I usually add many plants that I've started from seed to my garden. This assures me an ample supply of butterfly eggs to raise.

I have also used the potted plants to raise Monarch butterflies indoors. One mature plant feeds one caterpillar.

It is best to start Asclepias curassavica indoors 8-12 weeks before the last frost.

Notice the Monarch Butterfly laying an egg on it's favorite.......TROPICAL MILKWEED.

If you grow them.....Tropical and Swamp Milkweed..... they will come!!