milkweed regeneration

[psi_chemie]

This was surpising to me: I collected some vine and other unkown milkweed. The vine I have some experience with. It's almost like a philodendron in how easily it roots and grows in water. The other milkweed has got some thick, broad, slightly wavy leaves. Anyways, I had just dug them out of the ground and rinsed away dirt.

This left some root. I planted these at home in a 5 gallon bucket. Despite having root and being watered well, they wilted, browned and then died. Now one week later, both types are sprouting back! I didn't ever expect to see it come back from total above ground death and just a few peices of cut-up root left.

Anyone else use vine? I think it works really well and never seems to attract pest insects.

[Paul Cherubini]

Back in Sept. 1995 in a field on the south side of the Walmart in Salina, Kansas I accidentally stumbled upon on a bunch of milkweed vines. I saw monarch caterpillars on them, but kept looking around for common milkweed because I didn't realize at the time that the caterpillars were actually using the vine as a food plant. So yes the milkweed vine makes a fine monarch caterpillar food plant.

[harpo787]

Interesting...yes the scarlett milkweed has had a problem for ants here in my little patio garden. I usually watch where they go to see if there are aphids. Well, I've gotten rid of the aphids and the ants are still busy as ever. Turns out that the scarlett's flower is rather sweet.

I don't know if it's just something it does naturally, or if it's because I spray mist water on them, but a little droplet collects on the top of the flowers, and I've tasted it and it is MIGHTY SWEET. Then I saw the ants there at the flower tops, so I'm fairly sure that's what they're interested in now.

How can I keep ants off the plants without disturbing the plants and thus the cats/butterflies? NOTE: they are all on a patio in pots.

[psi_chemie]

You could try surrounding them with water - setting the pots in a tray or big dish with water in it. I don't think ants swim.

[harpo787]

Dang...that makes me wish that my plant pots didn't have the holes in 'em. They sit in those trays for each individual pot. I could fill them with water.....if the pots didn't have the holes.

I've got a total of 5 milkweeds now, so two are still unscathed (been here less than a day). I've got a total of 9 plants that have flowers and ant potential. That's a lot of trays...

There's got to be a way. Hmm, perhaps surround them with a barrier of liquid soap? Oh, but if the cats get down off the plant to go pupate, they'll encounter the same "moat". Grrr...