How to Raise Butterflies In A Greenhouse

Written by GreenhouseGusto in Greenhouse Q&A

Butterflies are one of the most beautiful creatures that can bring your garden to life. Because of this, many people want to raise butterflies inside a greenhouse.

Of course, the main question is can you raise butterflies in a greenhouse? Let’s find out more about this.

Can You Raise Butterflies In A Greenhouse?

You can raise butterflies in a greenhouse by providing the right conditions so that they can thrive. For example, if there is no flat stone inside your greenhouse, then they will not like being there. Butterflies need to stop, rest, and feed, and they will only do this once they can land on a flat surface.

On the other hand, you also need nectar trays in your greenhouse because they will not feed on the plants. You can also spread fruits and oranges throughout your greenhouse to feed the butterflies.

Once you follow these guidelines, the butterflies will thrive inside the greenhouse. You must fulfill certain conditions so that they can enjoy being inside the greenhouse and thrive.

How Can I Create A Butterfly Greenhouse?

You can easily create a butterfly greenhouse and keep them inside for a long time. The secret is to design and plant the greenhouse in the right way.

You must also figure out the types of butterflies you want to raise in the greenhouse. Once you do, here are the steps you can follow to set up a butterfly greenhouse:

1. Select a location that receives some sunlight but is also protected from the wind. You can include some bushes and trees for a cool temperature on hot days and nighttime roosting.

2. You can also arrange flat and large pebbles in the sun to offer the butterflies a spot where they can sunbathe.

3. Fill a container with damp sand and create a puddle for the butterflies to drink water. You must remember that butterflies will never drink from a clean water source.

4. Add some nectar plants to your greenhouse. These can include purple coneflower, butterfly bush, cosmos, and much more.

5. You can also add plants that are larvae-friendly. These include parsley, milkweed, fennel, and dill.

6. Finally, you can apply a pesticide with care and precaution inside the greenhouse to protect the butterfly adults and larvae.

Related: How To Start A Butterfly Greenhouse

Where Can I Get Butterflies For My Greenhouse?

You might wonder where you can get butterflies for the greenhouse. The good news is that they are easily available in many places.

For example, there are many butterfly farms that will sell you butterfly kits. You can order these kits online, and they will deliver them to your home.

Remember that such kits also have live caterpillars that you can raise into butterflies. The kit will come with instructions, which is why you don’t have to worry about raising them.

It is crucial that when you purchase butterflies, you must get ones that are native to your region. That is because if you raise invasive butterfly species, they will outcompete the native species for food and keep reproducing quickly.

Such a situation will be challenging for the native species.

How Can I Naturally Attract Butterflies To My Greenhouse?

If you don’t want to purchase butterflies, you can always attract them naturally. Here are some of the top tips you can apply to ensure that butterflies come to your greenhouse:

  • Paint the home of the butterflies inside the greenhouse with bright paint
  • Butterflies are attracted to colors such as pink, red, purple, and yellow
  • Plant flowers in the greenhouse that have vivid colors to attract butterflies
  • Place the flowerbed in a bright spot so the butterflies can come
  • Ensure that there is direct sunlight in your greenhouse, as butterflies will go where they will receive the most sun

You can follow these simple guidelines to attract butterflies to your greenhouse. Remember that once you take these steps, it will still take some time for the butterflies to enter the greenhouse.

That is why you will have to be patient with the process. The key is to create a greenhouse that includes everything the butterflies love so that they can visit it in no time.

Once you create a perfect sanctuary for them, it will not be long before they begin showing up. You can also raise some caterpillars so that you can release them in the greenhouse once they turn into butterflies.

As you follow the right instructions, you will have a beautiful greenhouse with fantastic butterflies.

Learn More About Butterflies:

Recent Posts