How to Care for a Butterfly House

Whether you're keeping a butterfly house as a rest stop for passing butterflies, or you are caring for caterpillars that will soon morph, it's important to take good care of your butterfly house. A butterfly house shelters butterflies and/or caterpillars from the elements and from predators.

Things You'll Need

  • Small brush
  • Nails or wood glue
  • Hammer
  • Weather-proof wood stain
  • Paint brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the butterfly house in an area that is surrounded by butterfly-friendly foliage, and high enough to protect it from cats, dogs and curious children.

    • 2

      Open the butterfly house on occasion to clean it. Use a small paint brush or an old toothbrush to brush any excrement, spiders and plant debris out of the house.

    • 3

      Make sure the small branch or tree bark in the house is upright and stable. Secure the branch or tree bark with a nail or with wood glue. Keep the house closed to butterflies until the glue has dried completely.

    • 4

      Stain the outside of the butterfly house with weather-resistant stain to protect the wood. Take the butterfly house out of the garden to stain it, and keep it out until the stain is completely dry. Do not stain the inside of the house.

    • 5

      Repair any loose boards with a hammer and nail. Let cracks in the wood remain, so long as they are not large enough to let any other critters in. Cover large cracks with netting or replace the wood.