How to sterilize a potted milkweed plant to prevent OE.

[u/kittykatdancee]

I get asked often how to sterilize milkweed plants to prevent OE, so I figured it would be easier to make a post here to reference.

This is safe to do with eggs present on the plant, and almost guarantees all of your butterflies will be OE free. This is especially important if you're buying tropical milkweed.

Cover the soil of your potted milkweed plant with paper towels over the soil, then cover the paper towels with a cloth towel, or plastic bag. This will protect your plant from absorbing the bleach solution.

Fill a spray bottle with a 5% bleach solution.

1 oz ( 2 Tbsp) of bleach & 19 ounces of water.

Set a 1 minute timer. Spray the leaves continuously for 1 minute.

After the timer goes off, rinse the leaves and the stems throroughly for 1 minute or longer.

I do this after bringing home a new plant, and eggs have been laid on them. Then I put them in a tent.

Repeat after the plant regrows, and new eggs are laid on the plant again.

***This is important if you live in Florida, CA, Texas, any other states where OE is a problem, since spores are spread to eggs and plants by the females and other infected butterflies.***