Thank you for always keeping us informed! I would keep the tropical milkweed that came back for sure. I would plant both tropical and native milkweed and let the monarch butterfly decide. If we want the monarch to survive, we have to allow it to adapt to our changing world.
There are 4 generations of butterfly in one year most living 2-5 weeks but the last generation the one that migrates can live several months to make the journey. I have been doing a lot to help pollinators and especially all the butterflies! I just won my towns garden contest and one of my benefits is to be lead designer on a garden in town. I am going to make a monarch resting spot and register it. Keep calm and garden on! Plant some milkweed and save some monarch butterflies
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy I forgot to tell you about greenhouse design. This is a cheap greenhouse. Place it in a wind protected area. Can buy a cheap one from Amazon or even recycle a cabana tent and add greenhouse tarp. These will stay warm in the sun. They can’t hold snow. No problem. As to tall polls to either both sides of greenhouse and string across a line and cover with another greenhouse tarp; at a sharper angle so the snow can’t accumulate. Cold? During the day the sun shall heat the greenhouse. Let’s improve the heating affect naturally. Walipini technique is best because it will keep greenhouse from getting to hot as well as too cold. Not all of us can afford to dig. The other option is to raise and heat. Woodchip battery rabbit habitat. A wood chip batter is wood chips set to compost by heat generated from fungi and bacteria. It need water and nitrogen to activate. A low maintenance way to address this is to out the rabbit habitat above it. Let them add to the compost pile. It will reach 160 degrees. We will export that heat to the greenhouse beds via water. Run water through tubes in the woodchip heater and then move it to the greenhouse to release the heat or run the same pipes through the greenhouse beds. Once this woodchip battery is built it will last for a year. Retain heat overnight by using a Chinese greenhouse blanket. There are many ways to make an insulated waterproof blanket. I like Mylar tarps too as they trap 99 percent of radiant heat. Blanket the whole greenhouse at sundown to retain the heat built up in the daytime. Need more light? Winter has short days. Still can extend day light with led grow lights on a small solar generator. The solar panels can be outside but keep the generator in a ambient dry temperature. This way the greenhouse runs without a heating or light bill.
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy thanks for all your videos. They really inspired me. When I get frustrated about the environment, I watch your videos and your hummingbirds and your rainbow 🌈 garden. I think more people are listening about environment now. I hope 🤞 ❤
@@gracie1283 The tropical milkweed doesn’t die back and can host parasites overtime. To offer the benefits of higher toxicity I would grow it in series, heat compost the old plants, and keep bringing out the new ones. I would grow it along with all other varieties and document their activity. They will choose. Their choice may be affected by other environments, ideally more individuals should work together. Also befor composting the old plant quarantine it and any remaining butterfly eggs to ensure they are not infected before the last release. Heat composting at 160 degrees will dispatch the parasites. Vermipost obviously will not stop the spread. I realize that making time to address the compost pile is difficult, so one way to buy more time is a vinegar bath with fermenting valve on it.
If you grow tropical milkweed please just cut it to the ground once a year. I do mine when I no longer see any caterpillars eating it. The parasite lives on the leaves, and if you cut it to the ground the new leaves that come up do not have the parasites. The monarch caterpillars are then safe to eat the tropical milkweed. That is what I found from the research I have done
I would plant both. I read that they can be invasive so I would plant them in containers (like I do now with everything). Btw, what a colorful garden you have.
oh my! save the monarchs. give them what they sant, which appears to be the tropical. Robbie you are the best. you never cease to inform and help us. thank you sooo much
I have had the exact same experience. I had tropical milkweed last year and had eggs that resulted in 7 butterflies hatching. This year I had native milkweed only, and it all died back before the monarchs even arrived. I'm thinking of going back ro tropical next year and just cutting it back in early winter. It is a quandary for sure!
Nice video Robbie!!! I am so happy you posted this! I had the hardest time growing Showy Milkweed from seed. I think its great that you grow any kind of milkweed… its better than none at all!!! I think God has blessed you to bless His creation! 🧡❤️💜💙💚 Liz in California
Thank you for including our gardening class video on Tropical Milkweed vs Native Milkweed in the video description as a resource! We agree with you on this as far as tropical milkweed and appreciate you working alongside us in helping to assist the monarch populations by providing good information on the topic to your audience! If anyone would like to check out our full tropical vs native class you can find it in this UA-cam video's description!
Your Videos are Awesome! I will be growing a few types of Milkweed for now on, Thanks so YOUR great information, and seeing first hand how the Monarch here really only want the Tropical Milkweed, again Thank you
I am so planting tropical milkweed. I live in Northern California, I can only hope that it brings the Monarch Butterfly to my yard. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this video together.
I have both tropical and native milkweed in my yard in southwest Florida. Monarchs overwhelmingly like the tropical variety. I like having the butterflies in my garden. Seeing them brings me joy. I will continue giving them what they like and I will likely cut back the tropical in the winter.
Thank you for the post. I was worried about planting tropical milkweed but I love when butterflies discover plants they like. I will no longer worry about planting tropical milkweed. Next time I see some, i will get a couple. We do not get that many butterflies in the desert, but there are some every year. If I can help them with habitat, then I want to.
Great research Robbie. Follow your educated instincts, they’re excellent. I’m going with the tropical milkweed or a combination of both. Great video, thanks. I learned alot.
I live in North Central Texas on a migratory flyway. Last year we had a late migratory wave of Monarchs that lingered on blooming tropical milkweed. A few days after folks commented on how many Monarchs they were seeing, we had a sub-freezing cold snap. My concern, at least for my area, is that tropical milkweed plus the new normal warm late fall will delay migration out of the freeze zone.
I agree. I think in part because it sounds like tropical milkweed grows at different times compared to the native plants, it likely disrupts the normal migratory and breeding patterns of the monarchs. The Xerces society, a conservation group specializing in pollinators including monarchs discourages the use of tropical milkweed for the very reason that it has been shown to disrupt the normal migratory and breeding behavior of monarchs. They are the scientific experts in this area and I would trust their recommendations to use native milkweed. They are involved in many scientific studies on this and many other topics and have a very informative website
I keep seeing some beautiful orange butterflies in my gardens checking out my marigolds and zinnias. I think they're either the American Lady or the Painted Lady. I have several Butterfly Weed plants growing but haven't seen any Monarchs on them. However there have been several flowers and later on seed pods so I'm hopeful I'll see at least one Monarch next year.
I think you should leave the tropical milkweed to do it's own thing and hopefully propagate itself. Also leave the native milkweed just in case. I am going to try to find some tropical milkweed this spring to grow in SE Oklahoma. I love your videos and have become a big fan of your channel. Thank you and Gary for all the information! I have started making compost in place this summer due to your influence and growing broccoli for my dogs, too. Thank you again!
Thank you for the information. You have changed my mind about the native milkweed. If monarchs are so endangered, then I believe that we should plant whatever they prefer.
I was confused about tropical milkweed as well. I got seeds from someone who had planted it and had a ton, like 50+ monarchs. There were caterpillars everywhere. My tropical milkweed grew. I got a few monarchs. The seed spread and more milkweed popped up. I feed hummingbirds too. They are still here in hot So Cal.
Yes you are correct about the parasite it is called (oe) Ophryocystis elektroscirrha it is believed it dies with native milkweed but remains on tropical because it lives longer thus infecting more butterflies. I have to do more research and will definitely check out the videos you have referenced. Thank you for your videos, I learn so much.
I would provide as many options as possible. The more options available, the better their chances of survival. Love watching your videos, have learned a lot. You have beautiful gardens 😍
I live in Southwest Ohio And start growing milkweed back in 2014.. I started out with a couple of common plants & added a couple of tropical plants that were given to me by a local butterfly enthusiast. You are spot on, I rarely find eggs on the common milkweed patch out by my mailbox which has now grown to / 75 plants and they are choking out the perennials that had been established in that bed for years. I have noticed that even when I put out a tropical plant that I had overwintered in a pot and put it out on my deck that immediately the butterflies find the Tropical and start gifting me with eggs. I save seeds and allow them to them to reseed themselves when possible. My challenge here is if I start them from seed indoors they mature more slowly and it's early November and I don't have many mature seed pods yet on the plants that are still in the ground. I have butterfly cubes and I sanitize the eggs and bring them in also sanitize the common milkweed leaves before I bring them in for feeding the caterpillars. My goal is support Monarch survival. If they want tropical plants I'm gonna give them tropical plants
Raised native milkweed Asclepias fascicularis and Asclepias showy milkweed past 10 years from seed, Planted in masses along with other native shrubs, wildflowers (which all attract the Monarchs). Always have Monarchs laying eggs on the native milkweed. Love ❤️ your channel!!
The monarchs in Australia aren’t declining, they’re fine. It’s just the North American populations that are on the decline, the western population mostly.
Thanks for this video, you helped solve a mystery for me. I live on a former dairy pasture that is loaded with native milkweed. Some years I have seen lots of caterpillars on the native milkweed. Other years hardly any. On a whim I planted some butterfly weeds and that plant is covered with caterpillars. I have never seen anything like this. They definitely seem to prefer it. There are still lots of milkweed moth larvae on the native milkweed.
Thank you! I have had the same concerns! I considered pulling my tropical milkweed but so enjoy the monarchs! Finally I decided that I'd cut the plants back. Problem was I still felt as though I was somehow harming them! You vocalized all of the worries I've had all summer! I'll soon cut them back (I'm in S. Texas) and look forward to them regrowth come spring!
Because this little plant just came up, I MAY NOT cut it back until next year, again, this is a young plant and it is getting ready to flower now, saw buds this morning forming on the top. Maybe we should have enough to cut back plants as to alternate availability?
Leave that one where it is. Grow more from it's seeds. And so on. Same with all your varieties of milkweed. Great Video! As always! 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Edit: Gary is adorable. Such a great couple! 🙏🏼💖
I’ve had tropical milkweed growing for 5 years in L.A. The monarch’s love it and they love our, at least 50 years old, passion fruit leaves. I have the milkweed in ground and it does spread.
Cut tropical milkweed back a few times each season to reduce the risk of OE Disease. I'm in Florida so I plant both. I have several tropical plants that I cut to the ground every so often. I do a few at a time in intervals.
I live in Central Florida, near Orlando, zone 9, and have had the exact same experience as you! Thinking I was doing the right thing, I pulled out all my tropical Milkweed and added native Milkweed. Well, no more Monarchs! We used to have a lot. So sad, I miss them so now I'm looking for Milkweed seedlings around my yard, moving them to where I want them to grow.
I'm in the PHX metro area and live in a condo with a tiny porch. I have been slowly adding plants and humming bird feeders. Your channel has been very helpful and inspirational to me. Thank you.
I say give the monarchs what they indicated they prefer. If it is the tropical milkweed, grow lots of it! My tropical milkweed dies back in the winter anyway and regrows from the roots the following spring, so it seems logical to grow it in multiple pots! Mine loves water, but I keep it close to my front of house so it is easy to see and water daily if needed in July. Many of my plants do need that daily dose of water even though I mulch heavily. I still water due to the 100 degree + heat here in Texas. In September and October, my tropical milkweed bloomed and the monarchs LOVED IT!! There was another flowering plant, Eupatorium wrightii (White mistflower) also called White Boneset or White ageratum that gets two feet tall and is covered with two-inch heads of tiny white blooms in September and October and it is a native Texas and Mexican shrub and they love it too and other butterflies like the queen love it too. It is native to Mexico and to the lower slopes of Trans-Pecos mountains. I sort of paraphrased that last plant description from a book I have as a reference book, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region by Sally Wasowski with Andy Wasowski. Nice photos and a good reference book. I believe I bought it from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center here in Austin, Texas in 1994 but I think it is still in print. Of course you can look up any plant on the internet these days!
I checked with my botanical garden here in Arizona and we have a native milkweed asclepias augustifolia. I am going to try and get some and add it to my tropical milkweed asclepias curassavica. Give them a choice.
Keep. The. Tropical. I mean...you can't make everyone happy all the time no matter what you do. I really think the biggest point is keeping the monarch population. No matter where it may or may not migrate to. I'm going to get some myself. 😁
hello! glad to have found you..we live in So. Cal as well and beginning of summer noticed this pretty little gal ( monarch butterfly) hanging around and searching for food and a place to lay eggs. that was the start of my love for these critters and i filled my area with milkweed. both narrowleaf and showy...i had successes and failures. learned a ton of info but no one suggested planting tropical, in fact i don't remember seeing tropical milkweed at the nursery. I did plant HairyBall MW seed but had no success... So going forward, i will indeed be on the hunt for TM. Interesting that you should mention change in migratory patterns. I believe this to be true. My hummers seem to be hanging out all year and to my surprise i still have monarchs laying eggs.
hi robbie. i am happy to see gary in your video. he's a very supportive husband. thanks to you both for sharing great knowledge to help mother nature. we have hummingbirds & other birds in our backyard. we have squirrels everyday too. i am wondering if the monarch butterfly's parasite would hurt them. i have seeds that i would want to plant soon but got scared they might eat the parasite.
Hi Robby. I live in Ohio so there is no tropical milkweed here. I use Native Milkweed and Swamp Weed and I had so many caterpillars🐛. I reared 22 to tag and release from 4th generation I also have a Way Station. I would use both if I lived in a warmer climate. Sounds like Tropical is Native to your area. 😁I would have both. I love your channel. I love Birds and 🦋 butterflies💕
Hello Robbie & Gary!🖐 Awesome video, tips, and love your colorful gardens!👏 I have some Monarch butterflies; they are beautiful! I had a very large Monarch come visit one year on my patio flowers; could not believe how large it was, almost looked fake! Thanks for sharing, will research about the milkweed, as well!👍 Blessings to you and family!💝 🦋10/29/2022🦋
I have tropical milkweed in my ditch line in Kentucky. I didn’t plant it. I see several types of butterflies on them. Plant until your heart is content! ❤
My friend is going to buy BeeBalm - Monarda Didyma - (Complete Grow and Care Guide) so I looked it up. There are several colors but it is medicinal. The channel Grow It Build it told all about it and showed Monarch butterflies having babies on one of them, maybe the lavender color. It's an interesting plant. You have so much variety it amazes me.
Meeee toooo! Thank you for this video! I grew native from seed and once established I removed tropical from my garden. ZERO caterpillars ZERO monarchs. I thought maybe my effort to “save” the monarch was too late so I went ahead and reseeded tropical because it’s pretty. THE MONARCHS CAME BACK! I grow all types of milkweed but in my garden the most caterpillars will be found on tropical and hardly any or none at all on natives. I have HUNDREDS of monarchs again!
🤩🙏 interesting, Robbie - thx as always. I don’t have milkweed in my garden yet but it’s been on my list & I have some seeds I need to sow. Your video, & several viewer comments, have given me some things to think about & investigate further.
I plant in mostly in containers. I only have a 16x16 garden. I honestly adapt to whatever the animals need. I have let so much of my garden go to insects or animals that I feel need the food more than I do and it gives me joy and peace. ( not bad bugs, bees. I got the cucumber beetle. only way to deal would have harmed the bees. I let them go. Bunny babies. ugh. I couldn't deny the mom from providing. I have the only yard in the neighborhood. And the landlord sold and cleared all but 1/2 an acre. I had a baby n mum deer here where we had 5 apple trees for the last ten years. I felt so bad. She was lost and they ate my tomatoes and ran into traffic. I do not feel bad about sharing with nature. ) I absolutely keep invasive plants in containers but honestly, I wouldn't blink if I grew something that helped species survive. I look around and see nature starving or as road kill daily and entire habitats torn down and people want the pests gone. It makes me sad. People are truly ignorant on how nature works and how we all need eachother including insects.
To me if you were getting them before i would grow what they came to. Abort the native or most of them and plant more tropical. Thanks for all the info 😊
Take your own advise and do what you want. I would continue what is working for your butterflies. We love seeing them along with your other nature videos,
I live in OKC and so tropical milkweed is considered an annual here. I personally grow both. The native milkweed is a perennial. I had a TON of caterpillars summer of 2021. This year, I had zero. I’m attributing it to the brutally hot summer we had. But yes, I have also read to just cut the tropical back in the fall or pull it up to prevent the parasite issue.
Hi Robbie, I'm in N.Y. I don't have tropical because I couldn't find the seeds locally. I did plant the swamp and they love it here. I raised alot of them using it. If I were you I would by all means continue to grow it and just cut it back in the winter. In my research that's what I read that you should do.
Fascinating indeed. I would offer them both choices, but plant more of the tropical milkweed. And experiment with cutting some of the topical back and leave the others as nature intend. You are a terrific steward of nature. Thank you Robbie.
Patterns do change but they should change and adapt on their own. Not to appease the nursery industry for profits. And not for humans because they enjoy seeing monarchs. There are plenty of native milkweeds and many different varieties that can be propagated and planted. Do some research and we can still give monarchs what they want and need without being lazy and planting what nurseries want to sell us just because they have prettier flowers.
I grow tropical milkweed and your right the monarch butterflies chose it over my native milkweed i just cut it back in October i live in ft Lauderdale FL
As an avid rescue/rehabilitationist of animals and plants...Like you I personally propagate & seed save, All the Milkweed varieties as NOT all butterflies like the same types ...Even Monarchs are 1s similar to others that choose a specific plant species to lay their eggs which is the plant that the catapillar will survive & pupae (chrysalis) on the leaf & emerge & fly continue the journey thus Species thrive. Sooas do as you wish.❤️ & Tytyty Robbie ❣️
Hi yes I grew some tropical milkweed I live in New York they do come to the plant I noticed that you need to plant some more flowers that the monarch will eat off of also they will stay in your yarn longer if you have flowers and some vegetables they will eat after they grow into a butterfly they will stay in your yard longer
I'm not an expert, and maybe I'm wrong, but your video seems to contradict most of the information I have found out there, so I think we should proceed with caution here. They tagged Monarchs in Michigan and found them in Mexico which is how we found the overwinter spot in Mexico. Tagging was how we discovered the details of their migratory patterns. From the Monarch Watch website: “Tagging was originally used by Dr. Fred Urquhart of the University of Toronto to help locate overwintering monarchs and later to determine where monarchs came from that wintered in Mexico…”, so I don’t think your statement about it taking 4 generations to make the migration is accurate. Maybe in certain cases, not sure. But the tagging project shows a single butterfly can and has made the trip. However, Califonia Monarchs follow a different migratory pattern anyway. They winter on the coast and then travel inland - that’s an entirely different group of Monarchs than the ones going from Canada to Mexico. Also, the parasite you speak of, I have heard can and does kill monarchs, specifically, the caterpillar is too weak to emerge from the cacoon, because of mutations caused by the parasite. Seems to me we need less tropical Milkweed and more native Milkweed so our native butterflies will hopefully stop gravitating to tropical Milkweed. Planting more tropical Milkweed feels like adding fuel to the fire, not fixing the problem. Not everyone cut it back in fall/winter like you are suggesting. Also, I think cutting it back only helps to not disrupt the migratory patterns, but it doesn’t help with the mutations. As I was explaining earlier there is a mix-up here about the migratory patterns because you are not taking into account the different groups of Monarchs. Califonia Monarchs can naturally stay in California because they go west to east, whereas east coast Monarchs migrate north to south. Tropical Milkweed disrupts both groups. So I do not agree with the idea you are putting forth that since patterns are already disrupted, and the plant has already been here for a hundred years or so, it’s now ok to plant Tropical Milkweed. That idea does not feel right to me. I will only be planting native Milkweeds and hoping for the best.
Robbie I've been raising butterflies now for going on 10 years , I'll keep it short and sweet here Robbie it's simple the tropical milkweed is easy to raise when the caterpillars eat it it comes back in a hurry try to do that with narrow leaf that's right it doesn't work another good friend of mine raises the monarchs the same way I do I live in Laguna Niguel and he lives in Newport Beach and we raise a lot of butterflies with the tropical milkweed it's simply works why would you use something that doesn't work it's that simple Robbie don't bother listening to these people telling you that the narrow leaf is the only way to go it is not the tropical is easy to grow and the butterflies love it , keep up the great work there Robbie .
I've heard the same info, and bought the native. Monarchs did not come to it. They flock to the tropical & we have many monarchs. I say keep the tropical; nature will select out of God given instinct, and since that is their choice, I'm not going to argue. My experience is in Florida. BTW the native died; I'm not buying more. Also, the monarchs love the red torchere Mexican sunflowers for nectar, and they reseed easily. Thanks for all the encouraging videos!
Yes I have read a lot about the Tropical Milkweek and in general I think the consensus is its alright but everyone does recommend cutting back to about 6" before Thanksgiving. To tell you the truth they are easier to find and grow in my area then natives are. I've bought other varieties as well...we'll see what happens in the Spring. I'm in south Texas and I raised about 25 this summer. They are so much fun to watch. The one issue I have are aphids....ugh...
I have a plant called Gregs Mist that the Monarchs and other butterflies are attracted to!!!! I live in West Texas in Menard Texas!!! The Monarchs have just returned last month because Gregs Mist has finally bloomed the spring and summer was much too hot over 100 everyday!!! So what kind of Milkweed should I plant and when????
I think mother nature does know best. At this stage with humanity too many things/resources have been altered. We do not know if native milkweed has been genetically altered whether intentionally or not. We do know that bagged soil has been contaminated with Grazon . Who would have thought or known that would happen! Things are changing, and I think it's best to be flexible, do our own research. If we are able to experiment, with the mindful intent to support our ecosystem, I think that is the best scenario. Then we can come to our own conclusions based on personal experience, and share this valuable information to help others succeed. Thank you for sharing this journey! It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.
Quite interesting Robbie, I lcce visits from the butterflies. There are lemon yellow ones now I still see here but not the others. I don't think I have any milkweed growing here though. I have all sorts of ornamentals the bees seem to love and the hummingbirds when they are around. While it has warmed back up a bit there isn't any hummingbirds coming back around but then they most likely already left for the winter to a warmer climate. Love ya
It's fine as long as you cut it down in the winter. BTW if you want to know more about raising butterflies. There's a great channel called MrLundScience- we used it to raise butterflies last year
In the Phoenix, AZ area and have observed the same thing. Greg’s Mist Flower draws lots of Queens and Monarchs but they both only lay eggs on my tropical and yellow milkweeds. I’ve had the AZ milkweed, desert milkweed, and pine needles milkweed longer than the tropical and yellow … but have only ever seen caterpillars 🐛 on the tropical/yellow. My native milkweeds do not die over the winter so not sure about the parasite on them. Right now is AZ season to get caterpillars. I’ve seen several of both Queen and monarch and so has a neighbor. I cut my tropical and yellow milkweed back in the spring. They seem to be a short lived perennial. None of mine have self seeded in my yard but I probably don’t have great conditions for seeding them. Im usually able to find them in little pots if I don’t get around to seed starting them.
California Monarchs do not migrate to Mexico. Their historical migration relates to leaving inland California and overwintering on the coast of California. California nurseries brought Mexican Tropical Milkweed to California as a garden ornamental, not as Monarch food. 50 years ago your nurseryman would sell you an insecticide to "take care" of that caterpillar infestation on your tropical milkweed. As native milkweed was removed (or starved) in favor of farming over these years, the Monarchs were given no choice but to seek out Tropical Milkweed in California suburbia. This lead to a sub population of California Monarchs that preferred tropical milkweed, breeds year round and doesn't migrate in the winter. Tropical milkweed has been banned for sale in three counties in California, with more to follow. It has been shown to spread, by seed, into untended areas where it perpetuates the parasite that weakens the whole population. These facts need to be introduced into your next video.
I have raised both tropical and narrow leaf milkweed and they definitely prefer the tropical. Yes the one parasite is a major concern so absolutely it is imperative to cut the plant down to near the base every fall. It also encourages the monarch to migrate to the central coast where a large population of monarchs collect and overwinter in eucalyptus groves. If butterflies are changing their habits it is man's fault-global warning and providing food sources is interfering with nature. We all want to do the right thing to save our beautiful butterflies. Consider thinking about your own personall choices that may add to global warming. It will help all our species including the monarch. And cut down the tropical milkweed in the fall even if it's still beautiful and flowering. It will help keep the monarch strong.
I read one who said in St. Louis he grows both types of milkweed and the butterflies start on the regular and then move to the tropical He said what they are looking for is the most succulent leaves.
Thanks. And they may be moving to the tropical milkweed as the parasite maybe growing in numbers on them, and the Tropical gets rid of most, just a thought
We've launched hundereds of monarchs from our garden in SoCal for years. We had same experience and dilema. Found the native milkweed would not grow-thrive-bloom in our garden. I called Thomas Payne native seed org, and their staff told me native milkweed will not thrive in our area - coastal area is too cool. So we are growing from seed and planting tropical...and the Monarchs are back!
I have both tropical and native milkweed in my Maryland garden. The Monarch’s prefer the tropical to lay their eggs on. We mostly get the last generation that shows up in September and lays eggs. Then they hatch out. They leave soon after. I noticed the natives aren’t in bloom in September, but the tropical will continue to bloom until our first frost. They continue to supply the Monarch’s with nectar when they are here and continue to supply other pollinators as well. I will continue to grow both.
I'm fairly certain butterflies, birds, wild animals etc, don't intentionally pig out on food that isn't good for them unlike some of us 😇! Just plant the Tropical variety along with other plants that all critters can use. When you chop it down as instructed, will you compost it?
I live in zone 9b AZ low desert. One year I get monarch butterflies and other years I don't. Last year I raised somewhere around 30 something butterflies not counting what was growing wild in the yard that I didn't help. I had butterflies hatching even in January. This year I have not seen one yet so I think it's going to be a lean year. I have tropical milkweed and the butterflies flock to that. I have native milkweed for my area and there is never a butterfly on them. I cut back my tropical milkweed to the ground when I don't see any more monarch caterpillars feeding. I am not going to let anything starve. The milkweed comes back fresh the next year. I guess we have a choice to make. Grow just native milkweed for your area and see no monarch butterflies or grow native and tropical milkweed and enjoy watching them. Climate change is happening it's going to change patterns of many animals. Probably in time it's going to change our migration also. Just do what you think is right. I want to continue seeing them. My winters are mild. I have see many painted lady butterflies, and I have their caterpillars on my tropical milkweed. Some of my milkweed is planted in the ground and some are in pots. My native milkweed does not die back it is evergreen.
Plant both!!! Looks like the butterflies that end up in Mexico want tropical? Those that reach Illinois want native. The generations may be different. Plant a bunch of tropical. In a separate area only plant native.
Today I visited a Butterfly Center in South TX on the Rio Grande..I have the Monarch Butterfly brochure in hand. AND it says..A milkweed that is native to your region..so, I hope this helps.
Thank you for always keeping us informed! I would keep the tropical milkweed that came back for sure. I would plant both tropical and native milkweed and let the monarch butterfly decide. If we want the monarch to survive, we have to allow it to adapt to our changing world.
I agree with you,,,👍👍👍
Agree!! 💯 %!!!
There are 4 generations of butterfly in one year most living 2-5 weeks but the last generation the one that migrates can live several months to make the journey. I have been doing a lot to help pollinators and especially all the butterflies! I just won my towns garden contest and one of my benefits is to be lead designer on a garden in town. I am going to make a monarch resting spot and register it. Keep calm and garden on! Plant some milkweed and save some monarch butterflies
Congratulations on your Garden contest you won! Like the hummingbirds, and the California Condor, everyone can use a helping hand at times. THANK YOU
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy
I forgot to tell you about greenhouse design.
This is a cheap greenhouse. Place it in a wind protected area. Can buy a cheap one from Amazon or even recycle a cabana tent and add greenhouse tarp.
These will stay warm in the sun. They can’t hold snow. No problem. As to tall polls to either both sides of greenhouse and string across a line and cover with another greenhouse tarp; at a sharper angle so the snow can’t accumulate.
Cold? During the day the sun shall heat the greenhouse. Let’s improve the heating affect naturally.
Walipini technique is best because it will keep greenhouse from getting to hot as well as too cold. Not all of us can afford to dig. The other option is to raise and heat.
Woodchip battery rabbit habitat. A wood chip batter is wood chips set to compost by heat generated from fungi and bacteria. It need water and nitrogen to activate. A low maintenance way to address this is to out the rabbit habitat above it. Let them add to the compost pile.
It will reach 160 degrees. We will export that heat to the greenhouse beds via water. Run water through tubes in the woodchip heater and then move it to the greenhouse to release the heat or run the same pipes through the greenhouse beds.
Once this woodchip battery is built it will last for a year.
Retain heat overnight by using a Chinese greenhouse blanket. There are many ways to make an insulated waterproof blanket. I like Mylar tarps too as they trap 99 percent of radiant heat. Blanket the whole greenhouse at sundown to retain the heat built up in the daytime.
Need more light? Winter has short days. Still can extend day light with led grow lights on a small solar generator. The solar panels can be outside but keep the generator in a ambient dry temperature.
This way the greenhouse runs without a heating or light bill.
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy thanks for all your videos. They really inspired me.
When I get frustrated about the environment, I watch your videos and your hummingbirds and your rainbow 🌈 garden.
I think more people are listening about environment now. I hope 🤞 ❤
What about tropical
@@gracie1283
The tropical milkweed doesn’t die back and can host parasites overtime. To offer the benefits of higher toxicity I would grow it in series, heat compost the old plants, and keep bringing out the new ones. I would grow it along with all other varieties and document their activity. They will choose. Their choice may be affected by other environments, ideally more individuals should work together. Also befor composting the old plant quarantine it and any remaining butterfly eggs to ensure they are not infected before the last release.
Heat composting at 160 degrees will dispatch the parasites. Vermipost obviously will not stop the spread.
I realize that making time to address the compost pile is difficult, so one way to buy more time is a vinegar bath with fermenting valve on it.
If you grow tropical milkweed please just cut it to the ground once a year. I do mine when I no longer see any caterpillars eating it. The parasite lives on the leaves, and if you cut it to the ground the new leaves that come up do not have the parasites. The monarch caterpillars are then safe to eat the tropical milkweed. That is what I found from the research I have done
I would plant both.
I read that they can be invasive so I would plant them in containers (like I do now with everything).
Btw, what a colorful garden you have.
oh my! save the monarchs. give them what they sant, which appears to be the tropical. Robbie you are the best. you never cease to inform and help us. thank you sooo much
I have had the exact same experience. I had tropical milkweed last year and had eggs that resulted in 7 butterflies hatching. This year I had native milkweed only, and it all died back before the monarchs even arrived. I'm thinking of going back ro tropical next year and just cutting it back in early winter. It is a quandary for sure!
Same with me. Had both and the Monarchs preferred the tropical. Didn't even land on the swamp milkweed.
Nice video Robbie!!! I am so happy you posted this! I had the hardest time growing Showy Milkweed from seed. I think its great that you grow any kind of milkweed… its better than none at all!!! I think God has blessed you to bless His creation! 🧡❤️💜💙💚 Liz in California
Thank you for including our gardening class video on Tropical Milkweed vs Native Milkweed in the video description as a resource! We agree with you on this as far as tropical milkweed and appreciate you working alongside us in helping to assist the monarch populations by providing good information on the topic to your audience! If anyone would like to check out our full tropical vs native class you can find it in this UA-cam video's description!
Your Videos are Awesome! I will be growing a few types of Milkweed for now on, Thanks so YOUR great information, and seeing first hand how the Monarch here really only want the Tropical Milkweed, again Thank you
I am so planting tropical milkweed. I live in Northern California, I can only hope that it brings the Monarch Butterfly to my yard. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this video together.
I have both tropical and native milkweed in my yard in southwest Florida. Monarchs overwhelmingly like the tropical variety. I like having the butterflies in my garden. Seeing them brings me joy. I will continue giving them what they like and I will likely cut back the tropical in the winter.
Thank you for the post. I was worried about planting tropical milkweed but I love when butterflies discover plants they like. I will no longer worry about planting tropical milkweed. Next time I see some, i will get a couple. We do not get that many butterflies in the desert, but there are some every year. If I can help them with habitat, then I want to.
Great research Robbie. Follow your educated instincts, they’re excellent. I’m going with the tropical milkweed or a combination of both. Great video, thanks. I learned alot.
I think more research needs to be done. Robbie's video seems to contradict much of the info out there.
I live in North Central Texas on a migratory flyway. Last year we had a late migratory wave of Monarchs that lingered on blooming tropical milkweed. A few days after folks commented on how many Monarchs they were seeing, we had a sub-freezing cold snap. My concern, at least for my area, is that tropical milkweed plus the new normal warm late fall will delay migration out of the freeze zone.
I agree. I think in part because it sounds like tropical milkweed grows at different times compared to the native plants, it likely disrupts the normal migratory and breeding patterns of the monarchs. The Xerces society, a conservation group specializing in pollinators including monarchs discourages the use of tropical milkweed for the very reason that it has been shown to disrupt the normal migratory and breeding behavior of monarchs. They are the scientific experts in this area and I would trust their recommendations to use native milkweed. They are involved in many scientific studies on this and many other topics and have a very informative website
I keep seeing some beautiful orange butterflies in my gardens checking out my marigolds and zinnias. I think they're either the American Lady or the Painted Lady. I have several Butterfly Weed plants growing but haven't seen any Monarchs on them. However there have been several flowers and later on seed pods so I'm hopeful I'll see at least one Monarch next year.
I think you should leave the tropical milkweed to do it's own thing and hopefully propagate itself. Also leave the native milkweed just in case. I am going to try to find some tropical milkweed this spring to grow in SE Oklahoma. I love your videos and have become a big fan of your channel. Thank you and Gary for all the information! I have started making compost in place this summer due to your influence and growing broccoli for my dogs, too. Thank you again!
I'm going to put the milkweed in a plastic bin to keep it contained because I think it can be invasive.
@@pups4evr
The invasiveness of tropical milkweed is related to the air-born floating seeds, not from the roots.
Thank you for the information. You have changed my mind about the native milkweed. If monarchs are so endangered, then I believe that we should plant whatever they prefer.
I was confused about tropical milkweed as well. I got seeds from someone who had planted it and had a ton, like 50+ monarchs. There were caterpillars everywhere. My tropical milkweed grew. I got a few monarchs. The seed spread and more milkweed popped up. I feed hummingbirds too. They are still here in hot So Cal.
Yes you are correct about the parasite it is called (oe) Ophryocystis elektroscirrha it is believed it dies with native milkweed but remains on tropical because it lives longer thus infecting more butterflies. I have to do more research and will definitely check out the videos you have referenced. Thank you for your videos, I learn so much.
I came to say this same thing! Tropical lasts longer which is causing them not to migrate.
I would provide as many options as possible. The more options available, the better their chances of survival. Love watching your videos, have learned a lot. You have beautiful gardens 😍
I live in Southwest Ohio And start growing milkweed back in 2014.. I started out with a couple of common plants & added a couple of tropical plants that were given to me by a local butterfly enthusiast. You are spot on, I rarely find eggs on the common milkweed patch out by my mailbox which has now grown to / 75 plants and they are choking out the perennials that had been established in that bed for years. I have noticed that even when I put out a tropical plant that I had overwintered in a pot and put it out on my deck that immediately the butterflies find the Tropical and start gifting me with eggs. I save seeds and allow them to them to reseed themselves when possible. My challenge here is if I start them from seed indoors they mature more slowly and it's early November and I don't have many mature seed pods yet on the plants that are still in the ground.
I have butterfly cubes and I sanitize the eggs and bring them in also sanitize the common milkweed leaves before I bring them in for feeding the caterpillars. My goal is support Monarch survival. If they want tropical plants I'm gonna give them tropical plants
Raised native milkweed Asclepias fascicularis and Asclepias showy milkweed past 10 years from seed, Planted in masses along with other native shrubs, wildflowers (which all attract the Monarchs). Always have Monarchs laying eggs on the native milkweed. Love ❤️ your channel!!
They are also in Australia. Ty for raising awareness 🙂 I had no idea they were declining in numbers.
The monarchs in Australia aren’t declining, they’re fine. It’s just the North American populations that are on the decline, the western population mostly.
Thank you for the serious interest in the butterfly situation
Thanks for this video, you helped solve a mystery for me. I live on a former dairy pasture that is loaded with native milkweed. Some years I have seen lots of caterpillars on the native milkweed. Other years hardly any. On a whim I planted some butterfly weeds and that plant is covered with caterpillars. I have never seen anything like this. They definitely seem to prefer it. There are still lots of milkweed moth larvae on the native milkweed.
Thanks again for sharing your video on the Monarch butterfly and the tropical milkweed very helpful information.
i say grow both--cover all the bases!!they will feed on what they want!!if the tropical works better plant more!! it can not hurt!!--love you robbie!!
Thank you! I have had the same concerns! I considered pulling my tropical milkweed but so enjoy the monarchs! Finally I decided that I'd cut the plants back. Problem was I still felt as though I was somehow harming them! You vocalized all of the worries I've had all summer! I'll soon cut them back (I'm in S. Texas) and look forward to them regrowth come spring!
Because this little plant just came up, I MAY NOT cut it back until next year, again, this is a young plant and it is getting ready to flower now, saw buds this morning forming on the top. Maybe we should have enough to cut back plants as to alternate availability?
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy mine is 2 years old. Also they are pretty resilient.
Robbie so very interesting about butterflies 🦋🦋
AWESOME INFORMATION ROBBIE. WOW WHO WOULD'VE EVER KNEW. I'M BLOWN AWAY HERE IN TEXAS. SO MUCH INFORMATION.
Leave that one where it is. Grow more from it's seeds. And so on. Same with all your varieties of milkweed.
Great Video! As always! 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Edit: Gary is adorable. Such a great couple! 🙏🏼💖
I’ve had tropical milkweed growing for 5 years in L.A. The monarch’s love it and they love our, at least 50 years old, passion fruit leaves. I have the milkweed in ground and it does spread.
Thanks for sharing ❤️
I was able to enjoy the beautiful monarchs on my zinnias I planted in my back yard this year, I’m in San Antonio TX❤
Cut tropical milkweed back a few times each season to reduce the risk of OE Disease. I'm in Florida so I plant both. I have several tropical plants that I cut to the ground every so often. I do a few at a time in intervals.
I live in Central Florida, near Orlando, zone 9, and have had the exact same experience as you!
Thinking I was doing the right thing, I pulled out all my tropical Milkweed and added native Milkweed.
Well, no more Monarchs! We used to have a lot.
So sad, I miss them so now I'm looking for Milkweed seedlings around my yard, moving them to where I want them to grow.
I'm in the PHX metro area and live in a condo with a tiny porch. I have been slowly adding plants and humming bird feeders. Your channel has been very helpful and inspirational to me. Thank you.
I say give the monarchs what they indicated they prefer. If it is the tropical milkweed, grow lots of it! My tropical milkweed dies back in the winter anyway and regrows from the roots the following spring, so it seems logical to grow it in multiple pots! Mine loves water, but I keep it close to my front of house so it is easy to see and water daily if needed in July. Many of my plants do need that daily dose of water even though I mulch heavily. I still water due to the 100 degree + heat here in Texas. In September and October, my tropical milkweed bloomed and the monarchs LOVED IT!! There was another flowering plant, Eupatorium wrightii (White mistflower) also called White Boneset or White ageratum that gets two feet tall and is covered with two-inch heads of tiny white blooms in September and October and it is a native Texas and Mexican shrub and they love it too and other butterflies like the queen love it too. It is native to Mexico and to the lower slopes of Trans-Pecos mountains. I sort of paraphrased that last plant description from a book I have as a reference book, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region by Sally Wasowski with Andy Wasowski. Nice photos and a good reference book. I believe I bought it from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center here in Austin, Texas in 1994 but I think it is still in print. Of course you can look up any plant on the internet these days!
I checked with my botanical garden here in Arizona and we have a native milkweed asclepias augustifolia. I am going to try and get some and add it to my tropical milkweed asclepias curassavica. Give them a choice.
Keep growing the tropical milkweed and have the beautiful monarchs in your yard
Keep. The. Tropical. I mean...you can't make everyone happy all the time no matter what you do. I really think the biggest point is keeping the monarch population. No matter where it may or may not migrate to. I'm going to get some myself. 😁
I think you are right, THANK YOU
I personally would do half native half tropical but that’s me! Thank you for trying 🥰🤗
hello! glad to have found you..we live in So. Cal as well and beginning of summer noticed this pretty little gal ( monarch butterfly) hanging around and searching for food and a place to lay eggs. that was the start of my love for these critters and i filled my area with milkweed. both narrowleaf and showy...i had successes and failures. learned a ton of info but no one suggested planting tropical, in fact i don't remember seeing tropical milkweed at the nursery. I did plant HairyBall MW seed but had no success... So going forward, i will indeed be on the hunt for TM. Interesting that you should mention change in migratory patterns. I believe this to be true. My hummers seem to be hanging out all year and to my surprise i still have monarchs laying eggs.
well, there is information on the xerces society website that says not to plant TM in California. There's good info on this website
There is much info both ways, but now their numbers are going up, from what I understand more TM is being planted which is helping them out.
hi robbie. i am happy to see gary in your video. he's a very supportive husband. thanks to you both for sharing great knowledge to help mother nature. we have hummingbirds & other birds in our backyard. we have squirrels everyday too. i am wondering if the monarch butterfly's parasite would hurt them. i have seeds that i would want to plant soon but got scared they might eat the parasite.
Hi Robby. I live in Ohio so there is no tropical milkweed here. I use Native Milkweed and Swamp Weed and I had so many caterpillars🐛. I reared 22 to tag and release from 4th generation I also have a Way Station.
I would use both if I lived in a warmer climate. Sounds like Tropical is Native to your area. 😁I would have both.
I love your channel. I love Birds and 🦋 butterflies💕
Hello Robbie & Gary!🖐 Awesome video, tips, and love your colorful gardens!👏 I have some Monarch butterflies; they are beautiful! I had a very large Monarch come visit one year on my patio flowers; could not believe how large it was, almost looked fake! Thanks for sharing, will research about the milkweed, as well!👍
Blessings to you and family!💝
🦋10/29/2022🦋
I have tropical milkweed in my ditch line in Kentucky. I didn’t plant it. I see several types of butterflies on them. Plant until your heart is content! ❤
I would grow the tropical milkweed & be happy they are there🥰🥰
My friend is going to buy BeeBalm - Monarda Didyma - (Complete Grow and Care Guide) so I looked it up. There are several colors but it is medicinal. The channel Grow It Build it told all about it and showed Monarch butterflies having babies on one of them, maybe the lavender color. It's an interesting plant. You have so much variety it amazes me.
Meeee toooo! Thank you for this video! I grew native from seed and once established I removed tropical from my garden. ZERO caterpillars ZERO monarchs. I thought maybe my effort to “save” the monarch was too late so I went ahead and reseeded tropical because it’s pretty. THE MONARCHS CAME BACK! I grow all types of milkweed but in my garden the most caterpillars will be found on tropical and hardly any or none at all on natives. I have HUNDREDS of monarchs again!
🤩🙏 interesting, Robbie - thx as always. I don’t have milkweed in my garden yet but it’s been on my list & I have some seeds I need to sow. Your video, & several viewer comments, have given me some things to think about & investigate further.
I have a two-year old tropical milkweed and the monarchs went nuts all over its flowers! So the tropical works.
Mother nature is changing. We can't stop what is happening. It is time for our planet to evolve and it will be good.
Well Said!
Thanks for the information, we have tropical milk weed here. I will make sure more grows every year.
I would plant a whole patch of tropical milkweed by the ponds and enjoy the butterflies!!!
I plant in mostly in containers. I only have a 16x16 garden. I honestly adapt to whatever the animals need. I have let so much of my garden go to insects or animals that I feel need the food more than I do and it gives me joy and peace. ( not bad bugs, bees. I got the cucumber beetle. only way to deal would have harmed the bees. I let them go. Bunny babies. ugh. I couldn't deny the mom from providing. I have the only yard in the neighborhood. And the landlord sold and cleared all but 1/2 an acre. I had a baby n mum deer here where we had 5 apple trees for the last ten years. I felt so bad. She was lost and they ate my tomatoes and ran into traffic. I do not feel bad about sharing with nature. ) I absolutely keep invasive plants in containers but honestly, I wouldn't blink if I grew something that helped species survive. I look around and see nature starving or as road kill daily and entire habitats torn down and people want the pests gone. It makes me sad. People are truly ignorant on how nature works and how we all need eachother including insects.
To me if you were getting them before i would grow what they came to. Abort the native or most of them and plant more tropical. Thanks for all the info 😊
Take your own advise and do what you want. I would continue what is working for your butterflies. We love seeing them along with your other nature videos,
Thank you so much!
When buying milkweed make sure it is not treated for pests. Or clean each leaf really good !
I live in OKC and so tropical milkweed is considered an annual here. I personally grow both. The native milkweed is a perennial. I had a TON of caterpillars summer of 2021. This year, I had zero. I’m attributing it to the brutally hot summer we had. But yes, I have also read to just cut the tropical back in the fall or pull it up to prevent the parasite issue.
Hi Robbie, I'm in N.Y. I don't have tropical because I couldn't find the seeds locally. I did plant the swamp and they love it here. I raised alot of them using it. If I were you I would by all means continue to grow it and just cut it back in the winter. In my research that's what I read that you should do.
Fascinating indeed. I would offer them both choices, but plant more of the tropical milkweed. And experiment with cutting some of the topical back and leave the others as nature intend.
You are a terrific steward of nature. Thank you Robbie.
Patterns do change but they should change and adapt on their own. Not to appease the nursery industry for profits. And not for humans because they enjoy seeing monarchs. There are plenty of native milkweeds and many different varieties that can be propagated and planted. Do some research and we can still give monarchs what they want and need without being lazy and planting what nurseries want to sell us just because they have prettier flowers.
Awesome video! I would keep the tropical milkweed
I'd be glad to see one if I was so fortunate
I grow tropical milkweed and your right the monarch butterflies chose it over my native milkweed i just cut it back in October i live in ft Lauderdale FL
As an avid rescue/rehabilitationist of animals and plants...Like you I personally propagate & seed save, All the Milkweed varieties as NOT all butterflies like the same types ...Even Monarchs are 1s similar to others that choose a specific plant species to lay their eggs which is the plant that the catapillar will survive & pupae (chrysalis) on the leaf & emerge & fly continue the journey thus Species thrive. Sooas do as you wish.❤️ & Tytyty Robbie ❣️
I'm in Georgia. I have successful with monarchs using flat leaf parsley and dill herb.
I have tropical milkweed and I also have monarchs. I read that we’re supposed to cut it back in the winter. It grows back much fuller in the spring.
Hi yes I grew some tropical milkweed I live in New York they do come to the plant I noticed that you need to plant some more flowers that the monarch will eat off of also they will stay in your yarn longer if you have flowers and some vegetables they will eat after they grow into a butterfly they will stay in your yard longer
The milkweed in Colorado have huge wonderful smelling blossoms.. ?
I'm not an expert, and maybe I'm wrong, but your video seems to contradict most of the information I have found out there, so I think we should proceed with caution here. They tagged Monarchs in Michigan and found them in Mexico which is how we found the overwinter spot in Mexico. Tagging was how we discovered the details of their migratory patterns. From the Monarch Watch website: “Tagging was originally used by Dr. Fred Urquhart of the University of Toronto to help locate overwintering monarchs and later to determine where monarchs came from that wintered in Mexico…”, so I don’t think your statement about it taking 4 generations to make the migration is accurate. Maybe in certain cases, not sure. But the tagging project shows a single butterfly can and has made the trip. However, Califonia Monarchs follow a different migratory pattern anyway. They winter on the coast and then travel inland - that’s an entirely different group of Monarchs than the ones going from Canada to Mexico. Also, the parasite you speak of, I have heard can and does kill monarchs, specifically, the caterpillar is too weak to emerge from the cacoon, because of mutations caused by the parasite. Seems to me we need less tropical Milkweed and more native Milkweed so our native butterflies will hopefully stop gravitating to tropical Milkweed. Planting more tropical Milkweed feels like adding fuel to the fire, not fixing the problem. Not everyone cut it back in fall/winter like you are suggesting. Also, I think cutting it back only helps to not disrupt the migratory patterns, but it doesn’t help with the mutations. As I was explaining earlier there is a mix-up here about the migratory patterns because you are not taking into account the different groups of Monarchs. Califonia Monarchs can naturally stay in California because they go west to east, whereas east coast Monarchs migrate north to south. Tropical Milkweed disrupts both groups. So I do not agree with the idea you are putting forth that since patterns are already disrupted, and the plant has already been here for a hundred years or so, it’s now ok to plant Tropical Milkweed. That idea does not feel right to me. I will only be planting native Milkweeds and hoping for the best.
Robbie I've been raising butterflies now for going on 10 years , I'll keep it short and sweet here Robbie it's simple the tropical milkweed is easy to raise when the caterpillars eat it it comes back in a hurry try to do that with narrow leaf that's right it doesn't work another good friend of mine raises the monarchs the same way I do I live in Laguna Niguel and he lives in Newport Beach and we raise a lot of butterflies with the tropical milkweed it's simply works why would you use something that doesn't work it's that simple Robbie don't bother listening to these people telling you that the narrow leaf is the only way to go it is not the tropical is easy to grow and the butterflies love it , keep up the great work there Robbie .
I've heard the same info, and bought the native. Monarchs did not come to it. They flock to the tropical & we have many monarchs. I say keep the tropical; nature will select out of God given instinct, and since that is their choice, I'm not going to argue. My experience is in Florida. BTW the native died; I'm not buying more. Also, the monarchs love the red torchere Mexican sunflowers for nectar, and they reseed easily. Thanks for all the encouraging videos!
Try Milkweed Vine. A huge favorite of pollinators and I've seen Monarchs feed on them.
Yes I have read a lot about the Tropical Milkweek and in general I think the consensus is its alright but everyone does recommend cutting back to about 6" before Thanksgiving. To tell you the truth they are easier to find and grow in my area then natives are. I've bought other varieties as well...we'll see what happens in the Spring. I'm in south Texas and I raised about 25 this summer. They are so much fun to watch. The one issue I have are aphids....ugh...
I have a plant called Gregs Mist that the Monarchs and other butterflies are attracted to!!!! I live in West Texas in Menard Texas!!! The Monarchs have just returned last month because Gregs Mist has finally bloomed the spring and summer was much too hot over 100 everyday!!! So what kind of Milkweed should I plant and when????
Mine like the tropical and my giant milkweed over the native. So I will continue to let them decide which they want to lay eggs on!! 😊
What if you let the tropical milkweed grow this winter and maybe propagate from the now larger plant
I think mother nature does know best. At this stage with humanity too many things/resources have been altered. We do not know if native milkweed has been genetically altered whether intentionally or not. We do know that bagged soil has been contaminated with Grazon . Who would have thought or known that would happen! Things are changing, and I think it's best to be flexible, do our own research. If we are able to experiment, with the mindful intent to support our ecosystem, I think that is the best scenario. Then we can come to our own conclusions based on personal experience, and share this valuable information to help others succeed. Thank you for sharing this journey! It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.
Quite interesting Robbie, I lcce visits from the butterflies. There are lemon yellow ones now I still see here but not the others. I don't think I have any milkweed growing here though. I have all sorts of ornamentals the bees seem to love and the hummingbirds when they are around. While it has warmed back up a bit there isn't any hummingbirds coming back around but then they most likely already left for the winter to a warmer climate. Love ya
It's fine as long as you cut it down in the winter. BTW if you want to know more about raising butterflies. There's a great channel called MrLundScience- we used it to raise butterflies last year
In the Phoenix, AZ area and have observed the same thing. Greg’s Mist Flower draws lots of Queens and Monarchs but they both only lay eggs on my tropical and yellow milkweeds. I’ve had the AZ milkweed, desert milkweed, and pine needles milkweed longer than the tropical and yellow … but have only ever seen caterpillars 🐛 on the tropical/yellow. My native milkweeds do not die over the winter so not sure about the parasite on them.
Right now is AZ season to get caterpillars. I’ve seen several of both Queen and monarch and so has a neighbor.
I cut my tropical and yellow milkweed back in the spring. They seem to be a short lived perennial. None of mine have self seeded in my yard but I probably don’t have great conditions for seeding them. Im usually able to find them in little pots if I don’t get around to seed starting them.
I would do both as a watch a wait test.
Keep the tropical milkweed. Save as many of those flying beauties as you can.
Plant the tropical milkweed. And native milkweed. Both.
I am with you ❤
My thoughts exactly.
My thought also
We are not mother nature but we can always help her out I will be getting some tropical milkweed
California Monarchs do not migrate to Mexico. Their historical migration relates to leaving inland California and overwintering on the coast of California. California nurseries brought Mexican Tropical Milkweed to California as a garden ornamental, not as Monarch food. 50 years ago your nurseryman would sell you an insecticide to "take care" of that caterpillar infestation on your tropical milkweed. As native milkweed was removed (or starved) in favor of farming
over these years, the Monarchs were given no choice but to seek out Tropical Milkweed in California suburbia.
This lead to a sub population of California Monarchs that preferred tropical milkweed, breeds year round and doesn't migrate in the winter.
Tropical milkweed has been banned for sale in three counties in California, with more to follow. It has been shown to spread, by seed, into untended areas where it perpetuates the parasite that weakens the whole population.
These facts need to be introduced into your next video.
Don't overthink it. I grow tropical milkweed all year. The monarchs that stick around in the winter appreciate it.
I would grow both to give them a choice.
First year in NJ zone 7a I had no caterpillars eating parsley, dill, etc. They have always been around eating these but not this year.
I’m in nj too. Bergen County. I had caterpillars and then they sprayed for mosquitoes and it killed them. Horrible.
I have raised both tropical and narrow leaf milkweed and they definitely prefer the tropical. Yes the one parasite is a major concern so absolutely it is imperative to cut the plant down to near the base every fall. It also encourages the monarch to migrate to the central coast where a large population of monarchs collect and overwinter in eucalyptus groves. If butterflies are changing their habits it is man's fault-global warning and providing food sources is interfering with nature. We all want to do the right thing to save our beautiful butterflies. Consider thinking about your own personall choices that may add to global warming. It will help all our species including the monarch. And cut down the tropical milkweed in the fall even if it's still beautiful and flowering. It will help keep the monarch strong.
Mine like swamp milkweeds and native common ones with a lot of water for them,tropical was just covered with eggs till the other milkweeds.
I read one who said in St. Louis he grows both types of milkweed and the butterflies start on the regular and then move to the tropical He said what they are looking for is the most succulent leaves.
Thanks. And they may be moving to the tropical milkweed as the parasite maybe growing in numbers on them, and the Tropical gets rid of most, just a thought
@@RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy I totally agree. They know what they are doing.
We've launched hundereds of monarchs from our garden in SoCal for years. We had same experience and dilema. Found the native milkweed would not grow-thrive-bloom in our garden. I called Thomas Payne native seed org, and their staff told me native milkweed will not thrive in our area - coastal area is too cool. So we are growing from seed and planting tropical...and the Monarchs are back!
I have both tropical and native milkweed in my Maryland garden. The Monarch’s prefer the tropical to lay their eggs on. We mostly get the last generation that shows up in September and lays eggs. Then they hatch out. They leave soon after. I noticed the natives aren’t in bloom in September, but the tropical will continue to bloom until our first frost. They continue to supply the Monarch’s with nectar when they are here and continue to supply other pollinators as well. I will continue to grow both.
You should cut them back a few times a year and cut them low in the fall before frost. It will reduce the risk of OE Disease.
I'm fairly certain butterflies, birds, wild animals etc, don't intentionally pig out on food that isn't good for them unlike some of us 😇! Just plant the Tropical variety along with other plants that all critters can use. When you chop it down as instructed, will you compost it?
How do u water ur lettuce?
I live in zone 9b AZ low desert. One year I get monarch butterflies and other years I don't. Last year I raised somewhere around 30 something butterflies not counting what was growing wild in the yard that I didn't help. I had butterflies hatching even in January. This year I have not seen one yet so I think it's going to be a lean year. I have tropical milkweed and the butterflies flock to that. I have native milkweed for my area and there is never a butterfly on them. I cut back my tropical milkweed to the ground when I don't see any more monarch caterpillars feeding. I am not going to let anything starve. The milkweed comes back fresh the next year. I guess we have a choice to make. Grow just native milkweed for your area and see no monarch butterflies or grow native and tropical milkweed and enjoy watching them. Climate change is happening it's going to change patterns of many animals. Probably in time it's going to change our migration also. Just do what you think is right. I want to continue seeing them. My winters are mild. I have see many painted lady butterflies, and I have their caterpillars on my tropical milkweed. Some of my milkweed is planted in the ground and some are in pots. My native milkweed does not die back it is evergreen.
Plant both!!! Looks like the butterflies that end up in Mexico want tropical? Those that reach Illinois want native. The generations may be different.
Plant a bunch of tropical.
In a separate area only plant native.
I am up in NW Oregon had our native milkweed growing for over ten years never saw a single monarch butterfly.
Today I visited a Butterfly Center in South TX on the Rio Grande..I have the Monarch Butterfly brochure in hand. AND it says..A milkweed that is native to your region..so, I hope this helps.