I really need some advice on an issue I am having with my milkweed. My tropical and swamp milkweeds have come up from cuttings I took last year and some I have grown from seed. Everything has been going great they are about to knees length, bushy healthy looking, and then all of a sudden the leaves are turning yellow with some dark spots on them and falling at the very lightest touch. When I go to trying to research this, I have read about the leaf spot bacteria, soil PH too high, chlorosis, not enough nutrients, too much water, and not enough water. I am at a loss for words on this because I have 3 cat's already and cannot risk having all my milkweed going bad.
I am going to check the ph when I get home tonight but wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on what I should be checking or if I should just check everything.
They are growing in pretty much sandy soil, zone 8b. Not too terribly much sun but also not in a lot of shade. I am finding that it seems to be the tropical milkweed mostly affected. Although my other ones have the same ordeal just not on every plant.
If anyone has any advice please let me know. I have attached some pictures from online that are almost identical to what mine look like. I will take my own photos tonight when I get home.
Thanks in advance for any help on this.

The yellow leaf is what they look like and some have the black spots on them

Did you water enough swamp milkweed drops leaves if thirsty

I would get some more milkweed. Our Home Depot has been selling them labeled, Butterfly Larva Safe.
Then I would just cut your milkweed back and throw those cuttings out. It's usually recommended to do this at the beginning of the season anyway, so you milkweed will be healthy. I just posted on this forum about the monarchs I'm raising (I've had 37 cocoons).

@orchidgal I am sorry I did not make myself clear on my post, I have some plants that I did cut back last year that have came back beautifully, and yes I have cuttings I took from those plants as well and some new plants I grew from seed over the winter. Most of them are all in the same area. But they are all having the same symptoms no matter which one they are, ie cuttings, new seeded plants or cut back plants that came back. Being that said, I am now wondering, in this area, if it is the water issue, where the tropical getting too much and swamp not enough, because I do water them more in that area, however being that said trying to trouble shoot this I have some plants of both species in another location no where near those are that barely get any water from me only rain and the leaves are doing the same thing.
I did soil test last night and the soil I have is very acidic and sandy which leads me to believe maybe they are not getting enough nutrients as well, maybe a whole combination of everything. Thank You for bringing up these points as it is making me think all of this thru to troubleshoot. I did buy 3 new milkweeds from Home Depot this week as well. So maybe I will have to start a new batch.

@plantsmyove, that is something I did not think about as I have both planted in the same vicinity, one wanting more water than the other. Maybe I should think about moving the tropical to where they do not get as much water.

Thanks guys for your help

The Black spots are some type of fungal attack.

Give them a shot of fertilizer higher in N. That should help the yellowing. Were the ones getting yellowed in a shaded area for a period of time?

I had a patch last year that included Tropical, Purple, Common and Swamp. They all got the same amount of water every other day or so and they all did just fine. Most of the eggs got laid on the Tropical and Common.

Orchidgal - moths make cocoons
Monarchs make chrysalis

DavidLMO said:
Orchidgal - moths make cocoons
Monarchs make chrysalis

Thanks, David. This is a pet peeve of mine. I'm trying to educate! Thanks for helping.

Can't help much with the milkweed issue but if it's affecting all your plants it sounds like everyone is on the right track. Plus, this is Florida. We have as many fungi as we do people.

Sorry - you're right David -- it was a slip; I had meant chrysalis. I had that huge moth I caught on my mind - which turned out to be a Sphinx.

Right.

Two years ago I saw many hummingbird moths which come from one of the sphinx cats. Last year I never saw one, but did see 3 or 4 of the cats. I had them on Datura, contorted filbert and of course tomatoes. Since I love the moths, I let them chow down and actually donate a tomato plant for them. Most peeps kill them on sight.

Thanks for all the advice. I have to say that the 3 pots of milkweed I bought from Home Depot last week also has leaves that are turning yellow and I have not planted them in the ground yet.
My husband has some nitrogen I will put on and try that. I am just not sure what to do but I will try it all and see what helps. i will try everything and do some trial & error
thanks guys