GMP 36:
Season 3
​Episode 9

Water Germination of
​Milkweed Seeds

From Seed to Soil in Seven Days

Press play above and follow the episode timeline

Water germination of milkweed seeds was introduced to me by Francisco Julich. I recommend following Francisco on Instagram @jardimdeborboletas he is based in Brazil. My understanding of water germination of milkweed seeds was expanded by Dr. Steven Broyles who is a professional on the subject of milkweed. I credit Francisco and Steven with being first to share the water germination method in my blog post Water Germination of Milkweed Seeds.
Looking for a simple guide to help you grow milkweed plants from seed? A milkweed seed germination guide is available for download. Cold Moist Stratification is recommended if it is October through March. Water Germination is recommended from April through September.
Milkweed Seed Germination Guide download.pdf
File Size: 66 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
At the conclusion of the episode I share how the germination has progressed. The photos below were taken on day 7b. The Asclepias fascicularis are going great!. The Asclepias incarnata are doing very well. The Asclepias curassavica red and yellow are growing but as I mentioned in the podcast the seeds are nearly three years old and that could be why they are not sprouting as well as the others. 
Water germination of milkweed seeds works well all summer long. In USDA Zone 7a I will begin water germination at the date of last frost which is around May 15th. In early June the showy milkweed seeds that I started were ready to plant. I placed the seeds in 10" cone-tainers for the seed to establish a large root system. Most milkweeds will spend the first year establishing an extensive root. Their growth above ground is very modest. For this reason it is a good idea to plant the seed in as deep of a pot as possible or plant it directly in the ground. Here is a photo of showy milkweed that is between one and two months old. 
showy milkweed seedlings
showy milkweed seedlings
At 3:45 of the podcast I mention using rainwater that I harvested. Up until June 2017 there was a law on the books in Nevada that made rainwater collection, of any kind, illegal. Just taking a few buckets of water like I am doing in this video was technically illegal. I would have been labeled an outlaw. Fortunately the law has changed and i am well within my rights to collect rainwater. 
Using rainwater isn't necessary. In most cases you can use your tap water. Just leave your water sitting out in an unsealed (open) container for 24hrs before pouring over the seeds. That should allow any chlorine in the water to dissipate. 
"If it's good for the butterflies, it's good for me" -Brad G.
Host: Brad Grimm
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Location​: Grow Milkweed Plants HQ
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Intro Music: sunny - Bensound.com
Outro Music: acusticbreeze - Bensound.com