Monarch Trust NZ Forum » Plants

Stripped bare swan plants, keep for next year or dispose of?

(5 posts)

  1. Gillian
    Member

    Hi all, I have resorted to buying swan plants this year to keep our caterpillars fed. My question is once the plants are stripped (probably got about 12 stripped plants now and I still need to buy more) is it worthwhile keeping them in the hope they will grow sufficiently for next year, or should I start planting seed now for next year. We only have a small garden, prone to frost, so there are limited places I could actually plant in ground. Monarch #23 hatched today and there would be approx 20 chrysalis plus quite a few caterpillars still growing. I did remove some eggs yesterday but do feel horrible doing so. Thanks for any suggestions.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  2. Anna
    Member

    Gilly, the stripped plants will shoot away and provide lots of food still for this season. Just give them a good feed, and place them somewhere where the butterflies can't lay more eggs, and within a few weeks you'll have lots of fresh growth again.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  3. Gillian
    Member

    Thanks Anna, I will do.

    Posted 3 months ago #

  4. John Selby
    Member

    Help,
    All our swan plants are nearly stripped of leaves by the big fat caterpillars.What can we do to keep them going.Our plants were killed by the snow last August,so the new plants have not had a chance to develop properly.Do we buy more swan plants and transfer the caterpillars over.Your suggestions would be appreciated.
    regards
    John and Prue Selby
    Lower Hutt

    Posted 3 months ago #

  5. Jacqui
    Key Master

    Hello John

    It's the age old debate...

    I suggest you do look for more swan plants. Hopefully there might be someone looking here from the Wellington area who has the "opposite" problem - no caterpillars. If they get in touch with me, I will send them your contact details. jacqui@monarch.org.nz.

    If you do buy more plants, make sure they are not sprayed. Transfer only the smaller caterpillars over.

    The caterpillars will, when they run out of leaves, start eating the stems, beginning with the softest new growth first. Sometimes they start to ringbark the plants too. Hopefully, the female butterflies will not come and lay more eggs on the plants! You could also drape your swan plant stump with thin slivers of raw pumpkin and you will find that the largest caterpillars will eat this.

    If you know of a pest plant called Moth Vine, you can also use this - but it may not be a common pest plant in your area. Whatever you do do not take seed pods of it home, or try and grow it.

    http://www.gw.govt.nz/climbing-weeds-threaten-our-native-bush/

    Posted 3 months ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.