Transplant Orange Butterflyweed ?

Question

I have some wild butterfly weed growing in a field at the house I am renting, it is so pretty and exotic I want to bring it with me to the new house I just bought. I understand it likes dry well drained gritty soil. If I bring some of its favored soil and transplant it will it be ok? Or instead of taking the chance and killling it what about seed saving and sow in my ground at the new house? How could I save seed from this plant? What does it mean to bag seed heads? Do I put a plastic bag over the bloom while intact with growing plant and wait for the seed sthat way or cut and dry upside down in a paper bag in the house? Thanks for reading..

Answer 1

If you take your time moving it it should be no problem. Not sure how big this plant is.  Moving some of the soil with it should be fine and would help. But moving the soil may not be necessary. Just dig out the plant with at least 2/3 of the roots. But before you move it (soak the roots) water it more than normal a few days before or even a week before to reduce some of the stress that it will take when you lift it out of the ground. Do not water it the same day you move it as this will cause the soil to loosen around the roots.

Dig it out with a shovel go about 3-5 inches past where the branches end. Try your best to hold the roots together in a ball shape taking the roots with the soil you dig out. Get a  piece of burlap or even use a large rag (like an old sheet or towel)  and wrap the root ball before you lift it out of the ground. Its important that you keep it wrapped. Try your best to keep the root ball from falling apart. Put it into a large container that will accomodate the root ball and carry it by the container into your car.

If you want to take some soil from where the plant is use a second container to get that out too. Dig a hole that is at least as deep as root ball and  add a few inches to accomodate the soil you took. Dig the hole about 25% wider than root ball.  Add some of the soil from the second container to the new hole. Carefully put the plant with the cloth still around it in the new hole.

Carefully remove the wrapping material from the root ball while its in the hole. Fill in carefully around the plant with any soil left over from the old hole and add any soil that you dug out of the whole to fill in the rest. Make sure that the plant is standing up straight. Water thoroughly.