Abstract Title
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Propagation and Transplant Survivorship
Abstract
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) populations are declining across North America due to habitat loss from urban development and use of herbicides in agricultural areas and along roadsides that has decreased populations of obligate milkweed host plants (Asclepias sp.). Milkweeds are a cornerstone to the life cycle of the monarch, as caterpillars are obligate herbivores of milkweeds. In Idaho, conservation efforts wish to begin showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) restoration efforts to enhance monarchs and pollinator habitat. According to the USDA, milkweed “seedlings are delicate and generally transplant poorly, and potted plants do not overwinter well.” We conducted greenhouse experiments to determine which propagation protocols work best to maximize vigor in milkweeds. We tested two soil types, pot sizes, and fertilizer treatments and measured proportional shoot growth of milkweeds over the duration of the experiment. We used two-sample t-tests to determine which treatments produced significant differences in plant growth rate. Here we present our experimental results and their implications for milkweed propagation, transplant success and habitat restoration efforts.
Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Propagation and Transplant Survivorship
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) populations are declining across North America due to habitat loss from urban development and use of herbicides in agricultural areas and along roadsides that has decreased populations of obligate milkweed host plants (Asclepias sp.). Milkweeds are a cornerstone to the life cycle of the monarch, as caterpillars are obligate herbivores of milkweeds. In Idaho, conservation efforts wish to begin showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) restoration efforts to enhance monarchs and pollinator habitat. According to the USDA, milkweed “seedlings are delicate and generally transplant poorly, and potted plants do not overwinter well.” We conducted greenhouse experiments to determine which propagation protocols work best to maximize vigor in milkweeds. We tested two soil types, pot sizes, and fertilizer treatments and measured proportional shoot growth of milkweeds over the duration of the experiment. We used two-sample t-tests to determine which treatments produced significant differences in plant growth rate. Here we present our experimental results and their implications for milkweed propagation, transplant success and habitat restoration efforts.