hydrophyte
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Riparium Plant Profile: Mexican Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
This post is a review of the useful riparium plant, Mexican milkweed. With notes on its cultural requirements and use in planted riparium aquascapes.
Mexican Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
Use this plant with other subtropical American riparium plants (e.g. Ruellia, Hymenocallis, Echinodorus) to develop a Mexican, Southern United States or Central American biotope aquarium planting. Mexican milkweed looks especially good when planted as a shrubby accent among taller, erect grassy background plants (e.g. Phalaris, Cyperus).
Cultural Details
Mexican milkweed tends to grow up fast with a single unbranched stem (see figure 3 below). In order to create a more bushy plant, it is best to use two or three rooted stems in each riparium planter. While this plant can grow to a mature height of around 36", one can easily keep it shorter with stem pruning. The preferred way to prune is to let the rooted stems first establish in the riparium planter with many roots--the plant might grow rather tall while establishing--then cut it back aggressively to leave just two or three leaf nodes above the roots on each stem (see Figure 2 below). This treatment will encourage the stems to grow back with many side shoots and shorter height.
Mexican milkweed needs only moderately bright light (one or two HO T5 lamps or equivalent) and casual fertilizer dosing. Fertilization via root tab and/or water column dosing should provide plant macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous & potassium) and micronutrients (iron & others). Yellowing of lower leaves can indicates nutrient deficiencies or inadequate light.
Propagation
Mexican milkweed stem cuttings are easy to root. Remove about 1/2 of the leaves from each cutting, then suspend the cut base end in water. In 2-4 weeks the stem will have numerous white roots and be ready for planting in a riparium planter. The seeds of Mexican milkweed also sprout readily, but producing a plant from seed does require more time.
Additional Remarks
The milky sap of Mexican milkweed is probably mildly toxic. While it is generally safe for use with aquarium fish, it is not recommended for riparium setups with turtles or where other pets, such as house cats, might be able to chew on the foliage.
Figure 1. The flowerhead of the horticultural A. curassavica "gold" variety.
Figure 2. Mexican milkweed stems cut back to a few inches above riparium planter.
Figure 3. a tall Mexican milkweed stem before pruning.
This post is a review of the useful riparium plant, Mexican milkweed. With notes on its cultural requirements and use in planted riparium aquascapes.
Mexican Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
- Geographic Origin: Mexico, naturalized weed in many tropical areas around the world
- Mature Height: 24"-36"
- Culture: moderate light and moderate fertilization; easily pruned to control size & shape
- Propagation: seeds and rooted cuttings
- Use in Riparium: blooming shrubby accent plant
Use this plant with other subtropical American riparium plants (e.g. Ruellia, Hymenocallis, Echinodorus) to develop a Mexican, Southern United States or Central American biotope aquarium planting. Mexican milkweed looks especially good when planted as a shrubby accent among taller, erect grassy background plants (e.g. Phalaris, Cyperus).
Cultural Details
Mexican milkweed tends to grow up fast with a single unbranched stem (see figure 3 below). In order to create a more bushy plant, it is best to use two or three rooted stems in each riparium planter. While this plant can grow to a mature height of around 36", one can easily keep it shorter with stem pruning. The preferred way to prune is to let the rooted stems first establish in the riparium planter with many roots--the plant might grow rather tall while establishing--then cut it back aggressively to leave just two or three leaf nodes above the roots on each stem (see Figure 2 below). This treatment will encourage the stems to grow back with many side shoots and shorter height.
Mexican milkweed needs only moderately bright light (one or two HO T5 lamps or equivalent) and casual fertilizer dosing. Fertilization via root tab and/or water column dosing should provide plant macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous & potassium) and micronutrients (iron & others). Yellowing of lower leaves can indicates nutrient deficiencies or inadequate light.
Propagation
Mexican milkweed stem cuttings are easy to root. Remove about 1/2 of the leaves from each cutting, then suspend the cut base end in water. In 2-4 weeks the stem will have numerous white roots and be ready for planting in a riparium planter. The seeds of Mexican milkweed also sprout readily, but producing a plant from seed does require more time.
Additional Remarks
The milky sap of Mexican milkweed is probably mildly toxic. While it is generally safe for use with aquarium fish, it is not recommended for riparium setups with turtles or where other pets, such as house cats, might be able to chew on the foliage.
Figure 1. The flowerhead of the horticultural A. curassavica "gold" variety.
Figure 2. Mexican milkweed stems cut back to a few inches above riparium planter.
Figure 3. a tall Mexican milkweed stem before pruning.
