Effects of Substrate Type and Environmental Conditions on Germination and Early Growth of Common and Butterfly Milkweed
Location
CoLab, COM 181
Start Date
30-4-2026 9:30 AM
Document Type
Poster
Description
This experiment tested how substrate type and environmental conditions affect the germination of two milkweed species, common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Seeds were placed either on moist paper towels or in soil, with 10 seeds used for each treatment. In the first phase, all setups were kept in the refrigerator for one week to simulate cold stratification. During this time, no germination was observed in any of the treatments. Because no seeds germinated under cold conditions, the experiment was adjusted by moving all seeds to a warmer environment under light for one additional week. After this change, germination occurred in all treatments, but the results differed depending on the substrate and species. Butterfly milkweed showed higher germination on paper towels, while common milkweed had better germination and growth in soil. In addition, common milkweed grown in soil showed the greatest root length, while butterfly milkweed on paper towels showed more leaf development. Overall, the results show that both environmental conditions and substrate type influence milkweed seed germination and early growth. This study is important because improving germination methods can help support milkweed propagation, which is essential for monarch butterfly habitats and conservation efforts.
Image
Effects of Substrate Type and Environmental Conditions on Germination and Early Growth of Common and Butterfly Milkweed
CoLab, COM 181
This experiment tested how substrate type and environmental conditions affect the germination of two milkweed species, common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Seeds were placed either on moist paper towels or in soil, with 10 seeds used for each treatment. In the first phase, all setups were kept in the refrigerator for one week to simulate cold stratification. During this time, no germination was observed in any of the treatments. Because no seeds germinated under cold conditions, the experiment was adjusted by moving all seeds to a warmer environment under light for one additional week. After this change, germination occurred in all treatments, but the results differed depending on the substrate and species. Butterfly milkweed showed higher germination on paper towels, while common milkweed had better germination and growth in soil. In addition, common milkweed grown in soil showed the greatest root length, while butterfly milkweed on paper towels showed more leaf development. Overall, the results show that both environmental conditions and substrate type influence milkweed seed germination and early growth. This study is important because improving germination methods can help support milkweed propagation, which is essential for monarch butterfly habitats and conservation efforts.
Comments
The faculty mentor for this project was Sarah Powell.