this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
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Aotearoa Weekly Kōrero 17/1/2025 (self.newzealand)
submitted 1 month ago by Dave to c/newzealand
29 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Last weeks thread here

Welcome to this week’s casual kōrero thread!

This post will be pinned in this community so you can always find it, and will stay for about a week until replaced by the next one.

It’s for talking about anything that might not justify a full post. For example:

  • Something interesting that happened to you
  • Something humourous that happened to you
  • Something frustrating that happened to you
  • A quick question
  • A request for recommendations
  • Pictures of your pet
  • A picture of a cloud that kind of looks like an elephant
  • Anything else, there are no rules (except the rule)

So how’s it going?

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[–] Dave 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Haha OK I guess it would be a bit tricky to keep the butterflies off a 2m high plant. Seems like your caterpillars are living in a post-scarcity society 🙂

[–] liv 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Its sort of post apocalyptic, there aren't nearly as many plants as I would like but the ones we do have are huge and there's hardly anyone on them yet!

[–] Dave 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Well lucky for the ones that do get a go at the feast! You'll probably have some very fat caterpillars

[–] liv 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Here's hoping! The other possible problem is OE, a protozoan parasite. According to wikipedia I should try again to establish tropical milkweed, which would be awesome because it's so pretty.

Last time all my seedlings got eaten by snails when I planted them out (unfortunately I don't have the capacity to actually garden) so will have to think of a new method if I get time/energy.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Ah interesting! Can you get bigger plants that will be less affected by the snails?

[–] liv 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That is the million dollar question. As far as I know you can only get them as packets of seeds (from the Butterfly trust people, not garden centres).

To grow them bigger than last time, I'll need to find something a bit bigger to keep them in, somewhere to put it, and have enough well days to not neglect them.

I guess another idea would be to get heaps of seeds and try to just scatter them all through the undergrowth and hope for the best, but not sure it would work with milkweed.

[–] Dave 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Ah that sounds like a big job! Scattering them might work, but if you already have snails eating them then even if they do germinate there's no guarantee they will live. Challenging!

Grow them inside and invite the butterflies in? 😅

[–] liv 2 points 1 month ago

Indoor space is on my lotto list too! I like your ideas! 😄

Just went out and killed a bunch of aphids. I normally don't kill insects but those guys are like humans and will actually kill the whole plant if left to their own devices.