Aeroponics
Aeroponics was introduced to me by Judi Sunshine of Wingin It Butterfly Farm. I had played with hydroponics a bit in the past, but did not do much with it and had never heard of aeroponics. When I saw the results that Judi and her husband, Ian were getting with aeroponics, I decided to try this and document it along the way. I am always looking for new and more efficient ways to raise our caterpillars. Butterfly farmers are growing unconventional crops that the majority of people consider weeds. How to grow these weeds without pesticides can be a challenge. Many of the pests are introduced...
Read MoreButterfly Gardening Tips for Western Pennsylvania
BUTTERFLY GARDENING TIPS FOR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA Butterfly Gardening Tips Do not use pesticides and herbicides Most kill butterflies, caterpillars and beneficial insects. Harmful insects quickly become immune. Predatory insects and birds will control pests, given time. They may sometimes snack on your butterflies and caterpillars, but you can protect caterpillars by hand-raising them in a cage or enclosed area. Choose a sunny, protected area An area receiving at least 5 to 6 hours of sun daily is preferable. Butterflies seldom feed in shade. Most plants favored by butterflies prefer sun to...
Read MoreMilkweed
Milkweed – the food for the Monarch butterflies Milkweed is a great nectar plant for butterflies, but it is also the host plant for Monarch butterflies. A host plant is the plant that a butterfly must lays its eggs on for the caterpillars to eat and grow. Some butterflies have a variety of host plants, but the Monarch butterfly can only use milkweed to lay its eggs on. There are many different types of milkweed. The USDA lists the different types and has more information about each of them. Plant milkweed to help the Monarch population. The Monarch population for 2013 has plunged...
Read MorePlanting the Seeds/ Day 1
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is the host plant for Red Admiral Butterflies. Wish Upon A Butterfly has raised Red Admirals butterflies in the past, but we are always looking for new and better ways to raise butterflies more efficiently and with less effort. This year we have decided to start Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)from seeds and have Stinging Nettle in pots to feed our caterpillars. I don’t know many places that choose to raise this plant let alone try to raise it potted, so this is a new journey that we wanted to keep a journal of. Not knowing if the seeds needed to be...
Read MoreFirst Monarch Eggs for the Year
As I look out the window at the snow covered fields and the snow lazily falling, it seems like summer is a long way off, but then I look at the calendar and know that Wish Upon A Butterfly needs to start gearing up for the 2011 butterfly season. Lots of plans are in the works to make this year (keep tuned) an even more exciting year than last year. Our Monarchs have laid their first Monarch eggs for the year. Soon there will be the lots of little caterpillars hatching out and lots of little caterpillars to feed. The Painted Ladies pupae are about ready to emerge to start laying...
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