Milkweed and Monarchs

How to Grow Milkweed

Milkweed not only offers a nice variety of color, but it also serves as a nectar source and a host plant. Any butterfly garden project should feature Milkweed, especially if you are looking to attract the regal Monarch butterfly. The Monarch butterfly population has declined an estimated 80 to 90% over the past few decades. As the only host plant for Monarchs, Milkweed is the best plant for concerned gardeners to put into their gardens. To grow Milkweed from seed there is an important process called cold stratification that should be performed to ensure high germination rates of seeds.

Cold stratification is crucial for the germination of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) seeds. This process helps to break the seed’s natural dormancy cycle by exposing the seed to winter-like temperatures that help soften or crack its outer casing. Without prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, your Milkweed seed’s ability to germinate is greatly diminished.

How to perform cold stratification in your kitchen refrigerator.

Step 1: Place your Milkweed seeds in a damp paper towel inside a ziplock type bag, and place in your fridge for 4-6 weeks (30 days minimum). Choose a low-traffic place inside your fridge, perhaps taped to the bottom of a shelf or in a vegetable bin, so it won’t get damaged.

Step 2: After a minimum of 30 days it’s time to plant the cold stratified Milkweed seeds. You will experience greater success if you use plastic form flats or pots that are a minimum of 4 inches deep. Fill the flats ¾ of the way with a ‘seed-starter potting soil’ and before placing your seeds, gently sprinkle water to moisten the soil. Water should be able to drain through the flat. Once the soil is damp, place 1-2 cold stratified seeds into each pot. To finish, place ¼ inch of soil on top of the seeds.

Step 3: Gently water the planted seeds to give additional hydration. The best way to water is from the bottom up. Place a flat (1020) tray beneath the pots and add a ¼ inch of water to the bottom of the tray. Use caution so as not to overwater. Water every other day as needed to keep the soil moist.

Cold-stratified Milkweed seeds should germinate and sprout within 10-15 days after planting. Please note, from the time you begin the stratification process to the first sprouts can take up to 45+ days, so patience is warranted.

Once your Milkweed begins to sprout you’ll need to care for your young plants. During the first few weeks, make sure your Milkweed is either in a sunny window, in a green house, or under a grow light. Milkweed requires lots of sun and warmth to flourish. If you’re using a grow light, make sure to lower the bulb close to the pots, or your seedlings may become leggy as they stretch to find the light.

After your Milkweed becomes established in your seed tray it will be time for transplanting outdoors. It’s best to transplant Milkweed when the plant is no larger than 3 to 4 inches tall. Milkweed plants often experience some transplant shock and may lose all their leaves. Planting seeds in deep flats of 4 inches or more can buffer transplant shock because the depth allows the tap root room to grow. If your plants lose their leaves DON’T PANIC. Your Milkweed is establishing its roots and will eventually grow leaves again.

Soil moisture and temperature are very important when growing Milkweed. Milkweed does well in open areas with a minimum of 6 hours of full sunlight exposure. Once your seedlings are planted, water them for a few days to get them established. After that, the plants don’t need much supplemental water. Only water if you have an unusual dry spell.

Now you’re on your way to creating a butterfly oasis. With a collection of milkweed supplemented with a few other nectar plants such as a Red Star Hibiscus or Eastern Redbud the garden will be enjoyed not only by butterflies but by you too.

For more information on butterfly gardening, plant types, and which butterflies are attracted by what plants please continue reading here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw057

Source information: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/alachuaco/2018/02/09/if-you-plant-it-they-will-come/

About Monarchs

Monarch: The Iconic Butterfly

Monarchs are an iconic insect because they are large and easily recognized by their distinct bright orange and black coloration and are well known to many people across North America and around the world. Monarch butterflies have been widely used in classrooms by educators to demonstrate insect life cycles and metamorphosis.

Life of the Monarch Butterfly

Plants Milkweed (Asclepias species) and nectar sources are very important to the life of a monarch. The monarch butterfly is vulnerable to population decline because of its dependency on milkweed as a host plant. Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed plant leaves and monarch caterpillars (larvae) feed exclusively on milkweed plants until they become a chrysalis. Adult monarchs feed on the nectar of milkweed plants and other nectar producing plants. Their visits between milkweed plants also help to spread milkweed pollen. The entire monarch life cycle (eggs, caterpillars, and adult butterflies) depends on milkweed. The name milkweed comes from the milky sap that contains toxins called cardenolides. Monarch caterpillars eat the leaves with toxins that make the caterpillars and adults toxic and bitter tasting to predators. This serves as a defense mechanism. Bright colors of monarch larvae (yellow, black, and white) and butterflies (orange and black) serve as a warning to potential predators to stay away. The milkweed plant is not just for monarchs. The genus name, Asclepias, comes from the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius, and refers to the medicinal uses of milkweed. Historically, milkweed roots, stems, and even sap were used by people to treat different ailments and as food. Proper preparation of the milkweed was necessary to ensure the toxins were removed. Additionally, fibers from the milkweed stem were used to make thread and paper. The floss from the milkweed seed pods is amazingly soft, insulating, and buoyant and has been used to make pillows, winter jackets, and even flotation devices.

Monarch butterflies and pollinators need a wide variety of flowers that bloom through all months of the growing season to provide nectar and pollen from early spring to late fall. There are hundreds of species to consider, but some of the more common plants include Golden Alexanders (spring); Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot (summer); and New England Aster and Goldenrod (fall).

Life Cycle

It is hard to be a caterpillar. The life stages of the monarch butterfly have many interesting features. The monarch life cycle begins as an egg that is about the size of the head of a pin. After 4 or 5 days, the egg hatches into a caterpillar. The monarch caterpillar, while consuming only milkweed for 10-14 days, grows quickly. As the caterpillar grows, it molts by shedding its outer skin, going through five stages called instars. Before forming a chrysalis, the 5th instar travels to a new location (usually off the milkweed plant), hangs in the shape of the letter “J”, then molts into a jade-green chrysalis with gold dots. The gold dots are called the corona, which is the Latin word for crown. This is the origin of the name of the monarch butterfly because people who are monarchs (kings and queens) often wear crowns.

After 10-12 days, the chrysalis becomes transparent; then the orange and black wing pattern is seen just before the adult monarch butterfly emerges. After emergence, the wings are small; however, the abdomen is large and filled with fluids. These fluids are pumped into the wings to expand them. The butterfly hangs until the wings dry, before they can fly. The total number of days from monarch egg to adult monarch butterfly is about 30. In the summer breeding area, the adult butterfly lives between 2 to 5 weeks. The time from one egg to the adult laying an egg is considered one generation. In the summer breeding area, monarch butterflies have at least three generations each year. The last generation of the year will fly to Mexico to spend the winter.

Migration

It’s a long trip to Mexico. Monarch butterflies that emerge after mid-August in the summer breeding area of the Midwest will likely become part of the migratory generation. The butterfly’s mouth parts are developed so they can only consume liquids such as water and nectar from flowers. Nectar consumption is important for the butterflies because they convert nectar into high energy storage for their migration to Mexico. In early September monarchs begin their migration as individuals, but on their journey, they gather with other monarch butterflies to cluster overnight on trees and shrubs. The butterflies only fly during the day and if it is warm enough (above 50 degrees), but not when it is raining, too windy or too hot. Monarch butterflies typically arrive in Mexico in late October or early November. They cluster on Oyamel Fir trees high in the mountains west of Mexico City in the states of Michoacán and Mexico. During warm days, butterflies may forage for water and nectar and eliminate waste.

In late February and early March, monarch butterflies become more active, mate, and begin their return migration. On their way, they lay eggs on milkweed plants in Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. These butterflies that migrate to Mexico, overwinter, and start the return migration will have lived 8-9 months. They die shortly after laying eggs that propagate the first generation of the year. This first generation will go through the life cycle where eggs hatch into caterpillars; caterpillars become chrysalises; then butterflies emerge from chrysalises. Adult butterflies from the first generation fly north and east to the summer breeding areas in the United States and Canada. These butterflies generally arrive in the Corn Belt mid to late May where they mate and lay eggs. The life cycle repeats for at least three generations in the summer breeding area. As a result, the population of monarch butterflies increases for the migration back to Mexico.

Threats

Monarch butterflies that migrate to Mexico each year face a wide array of challenges that collectively have contributed to a decline in the size of the overwintering population compared to the 20-year average. While the decline of the butterfly does not have a significant impact on pollination in agriculture; this decline of the monarch population is likely indicative of the strife of many other insects as well—including bees that are often regarded as the most important pollinators. For that reason, the monarch butterfly is considered a flagship species that represents other species, such as bees, ground nesting birds, song birds, native plants and other plants and animals — collectively called biodiversity. The monarch butterfly population decline is the result of many factors including:

• Loss of milkweed habitat

• Loss of Oyamel Fir trees in the overwintering grounds in Mexico

• Increases in extreme weather events and abnormal weather fluctuations

• Pest management (insects and weeds)

• Climate change

Past

Before modern agriculture, less than 200 years ago, much of the north central part of the United States was prairie, wetlands, or forests. This land was teeming with a wide variety of plants and animals— tremendous biodiversity. The combination of glaciers that once covered much of this area and tallgrass prairie helped create some of the most fertile soil in the world. Glaciers ground stone into fine particles and the prairie produced huge amounts of organic matter as plants recycled nutrients back into the soil.

The majority of the land in the north central part of the United States, often called the Corn Belt, is now one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the world. The Corn Belt is in the center of the monarch’s summer breeding range, and roughly 50% of all monarch butterflies that overwinter in Mexico are estimated to originate from the Corn Belt. There has been a concerted effort to grow food in the Corn Belt because of the fertile soil and favorable growing conditions. In the Corn Belt, a significant percentage of the land is dedicated to agriculture and is the key area for producing corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, poultry, milk, and eggs. The table on the next page highlights the ranking of states according to their agricultural production showing their importance for producing food for the United States and the world. Most crops are planted in large fields that contain one crop species because this is the most practical method for farmers. Much of the area of the original prairie, wetlands, and forests is farmed with a few different crop species and, as a result, the diversity of plants and animals is reduced. Reduced biodiversity in agricultural areas, especially the loss of milkweed and nectar plants, could be major factors impacting monarch butterflies and pollinators.

Future

Biodiversity benefits monarch butterflies and everyone else. Now scientists understand more about the importance of biodiversity and realize the need to develop monarch and pollinator habitat. More diverse ecosystems are more resilient to change and provide benefits to the surrounding area, such as reduced soil erosion, cleaner water, and fewer pests. Plants, animals, and people all benefit from diverse ecosystems. Action: Farmers need land to produce food and people need land for houses, schools, businesses, and roads. Monarch butterflies also need land for survival. Perhaps there is a solution. Sometimes land on farms and non-agricultural areas is underutilized. Some areas of farms are not productive. These areas may be too hilly, too wet or not easily accessible. Many non-agricultural areas also are underutilized including roadsides, school yards, parks, golf courses, and home landscapes. All these types of underutilized land can be used to establish habitats that are beneficial for monarchs, pollinators, and other wildlife, which increases biodiversity without reducing food production. Everyone, no matter where you live, can be a part of the solution.