Milkweed leaf 'problems'

[Mona Miller]

Milkweed leaf 'problems'
http://www.mymonarchguide.com/2007/08/m ... blems.html

In the beginning of the year I had problems with the spots on the leaves. I removed the leaves, added new potting soil to the top of the pot and so far so good.

[texas butterfly]

I'd say that I'm having problems with rust on my tropical milkweed plants.

The bottom leaves are getting brown spots on them on the bottom of the leaves. Eventually the brown spots get bigger and seem to consume the whole leaf and make the leaf turn yellow. And then eventually it falls off.

I had fed a few of the brown spotted leaves to some cats and think that contributed to them dying.

The link above mentions the rust and to carefully remove the leaves as to not spread the spores. And to throw the leaves away.

I'll start carefully removing these suspect leaves and throw them away and see if this helps with this situation.

[Mona Miller]

You can easily root typical milkweed by taking cuttings. These can be rotted in water or just stuck in a pot of potting soil. In Virginia, we can plant seeds of tropical milkweed and get it blooming by the end of September, if we do it now. I've taken as little as one leaf node and got it to root.

I think my fungus problem had to do with all the rain we had in the spring. I almost thought we were converting to Washington State weather.