Cuttings vs Seeds for Tropical Milkweed

[rbtbob]

I have tropical milkweed plants that I over wintered last year from which I made cuttings this spring and had a very successful yield. I cut them into 4 to 6 inch segments, dipped them in rooting hormone and had more than I thought I needed (until this fall). My question is this, the original plants grew to nearly 6 feet this year and I would like to repeat the same process this year, making cuttings now while the plants are pretty much sticks already. Are there any problems associated with propagating from the same plants for this many seasons? If so should I buy some new seeds or just start new plants from the seeds from my existing plants. I have plenty of seeds that I have saved through the season.I have some plants (mostly those with red and yellow flowers)that seem to be favorites and are the first to be consumed that I want to key on if possible. I live in zone 7, in North East Alabama. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated as I am becoming quite obsessed with raising and releasing Monarchs.

[Mona Miller]

The only problem is that if there is any OE spores on the plants that you have those could winter over inside, too. But, apparently you didn't have a problem last year. I find that the tropical mikweed will root without the rooting hormone, just stick into the dirt.

[applestar]

I'm glad I saw this thread.

This spring was the first time I tried growing tropical milkweed, and it was a sllloooooww process!
Now, of course, some of them are over 6 ft tall. I've collected seeds but I'll definitely take some cuttings as well.

If overwintering the plant itself, how severe a pruning can they take? Also, do you have to keep them green and alive over the winter, or can they be overwintered in a dormant state, and how? Some more detail on ideal indoor winter temperature, sun exposure, watering, humidity level, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

[rbtbob]

Last year I tried several different methods last year and all seemed to work. I cut my plants back in late February,some back nearly the base and they sprouted new stalks, and some partially and left others intact. All were kept actively growing in the greenhouse along with the other plants which I have been over-wintering, basically keeping above freezing overnight and the hardest thing here , keeping them from getting too hot and dried out during the day, but they are were not too picky and did very well . The coolest thing was that the cuttings produced much larger plants than sprouting new seedlings. Here in the south, my plants did very well outdoors until late in the season. Please take into consideration the fact that I have only two years experience doing this and was looking for advice with this post.

[Mona Miller]

The best luck that I have had is taking cuttings and keeping them in a jar of water all winter. I don't have a greenhouse to keep plants and my window garden isn't large enough.

[Mona Miller]

Google search on "propagation and wintering over tropical milkweed"

http://nababutterfly.com/NABA%20Butterf ... pical.html