Germination of
Asclepias curassavica
Tropical milkweed, Bloodflower, Blood flower, Scarlet milkweed, Mexican butterfly weed, Cotton bush
GERMINATION METHOD (direct sow vs start indoors, etc.) Start indoors in cell trays for best control, or direct sow after conditions are warm. Keep in bright light. PRE-TREATMENT (scarification / stratification / soaking, only if required) Typically none required for this species. If germination is slow, a brief cool/moist rest can be tried, but it’s not usually necessary. SOWING DEPTH Cover lightly—about 3–6 mm (⅛–¼ in.) of mix, or press in and dust over. LIGHT REQUIREMENT (light/dark to germinate) Light is helpful; do not bury deeply. TEMP RANGE Warm germination; aim roughly 22–28°C (72–82°F). MOISTURE & MEDIUM Keep evenly moist in a well‑drained medium. Avoid waterlogging; bottom-watering helps. DAYS TO GERMINATE Often 7–21 days. NOTES (dormancy quirks, transplant tips, etc.) Seedlings dislike root disturbance—use deeper cells and transplant while small. Provide strong light to prevent stretch.
Some of plants may have very have specific germination requirements that may not be covered in these general instructions.
Many seeds require pre-treatment before sowing which we try to list here when we can, but this information may not be present here. Germination times and germination temperatures are to be a guide only. Many factors can DRASTICALLY affect this.
It's always a good idea to research the specific germination requirements from multiple sources for each plant before attempting to grow them from seed.