How to Grow Agave

 

The Agave plants are succulent perennial plants with large leaves that end in pointy tips. The Agaves succulent plants have a lot of variety, with over two hundred and fifty species in the agave genus. The large, stiff specimens can grow to ten feet or more in height and width, and smaller species can be dish-sized. A few agave plants species have soft leaves and no spines. Is agave easy to grow? The Agaves succulent plants grow best in rocky, sandy, well-drained soil in full sun. Fertilizer can encourage the Agaves succulent plants to bloom, which is not recommended because the Agaves succulent plants only blooms once, then dies.

 

Agaves Plant Info

The common name: The common names are Agave, century plant.

The botanical name: The botanical name is Agave.

The family: Agaves plants belong to Asparagaceae family.

The plant type: Agaves plants are perennial, succulent plant.

The mature size: The mature size is about 1–20 feet tall, 1–10 feet wide (depends on the variety)

The sun exposure: Agaves plants prefer full sun.

The soil type: Agaves plants do well in sandy, well-drained soil.

The soil pH : Acidic, neutral

The Blooming time: It varies; most only bloom once in their lifetime.

The flower colors: The flower colors are green, white, and yellow.

USDA hardiness zones: five to eleven.

The native area: The Agaves plants are native to North America, Central America, South America.

Plant toxicity: The plant is toxic to people and also toxic to pets.

 

Agave Care

The following are the main care requirements for growing Agaves succulent plants:

The Agaves succulent plants needs well-draining soil, like rocky, sandy, or cactus soil.

The Agaves succulent plants require full sun, with at least six hours of light daily.

You can plant them in the spring or early fall.

The Agaves succulent plants prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil.

The Agaves succulent plant does not grow well in humidity.

Make sure you hold off on fertilizer.

Water the plants only when the soil is dry.

The Agaves succulent plants grow well in containers indoors.

 

Light requirement

The Agaves succulent plants actually prefer a spot with full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight on most days. But the plants can tolerate a little shade. The hotter the climate is, the more shade the plant can handle.

 

Soil requirement

The Agaves succulent plants tolerate any well-draining soil but prefer rocky or sandy soil. Poor soil drainage can actually lead to root rot, killing the plant. In addition, the Agaves succulent plants like a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH.

 

Water requirement

The mature Agaves succulent plants are very drought tolerant. You only need to water the plant if you've had a long stretch without rainfall and the soil is completely dry. On the other hand, when establishing a plant, water the plant every 4 or 5 days for the first month. Then, water once a week, and gradually space watering to every other week, depending on rainfall.

 

Temperature and humidity requirement

Most of the Agaves succulent plants can't tolerate frost and can only grow as far north as USDA growing zones eight or nine. But some, such as Agave parryi, are reliably perennial to zone five. Moreover, most of the Agaves succulent plants prefer a climate with low humidity. High humidity can actually lead to crown rot on the Agaves plant.

 

Fertilizer requirement

Feeding typically isn't too needed for the Agaves succulent plants. Feeding actually encourages flowering, which you don't want to happen too soon because most of the Agaves succulent plants die after flowering.

 

Different Types of Agave

The following are the types of Agave:

The Agave Americana: The Agave Americana also called century plant because it was once thought it took one hundred years for the plant to flower; The Agave Americana usually blooms after ten to twenty-five years, dying after blooming.  

The Agave Attenuata: The Agave attenuata is a popular spineless variety known as the foxtail or dragon-tree agave. The Agave attenuata grows around four to five feet tall and a bit wider.

The Agave parviflora: The Agave parviflora leaves have white markings and curling filaments that look hairy. The Agave parviflora only gets about six inches tall and blooms in 6 to 8 years with green flowers.

The Agave Tequilana Azul: The Weber’s blue agave is used to make tequila, but it is also a very attractive garden plant, reaching upward of six feet tall and flowering in 6 to 8 years with yellow blooms.

The Agave victoria-reginae: As the Agave victoria-reginae matures, its broad leaves cup inward, forming a dome. The Agave victoria-reginae reaches a height of about a foot, and cream flowers appear in twenty to thirty years.

 

Agave Plant Propagation

The mature Agaves succulent plants produce pups, or tiny new plants, around their base. The plant can be propagated from these pups. Not only is this a low-cost way to get new Agaves plants, but it also prevents the mature Agaves plant from becoming overcrowded by the young plants. The pups generally can be propagated at any time, but it’s best to wait until they’re a few inches in diameter. This is how:

 

Start by Loosen the soil around the pup to find the root connecting it to the parent plant. Use a sharp trowel to cut the root, be very careful not to cut any roots growing from the pup.

Lightly dig up the pup, leaving as many of its roots as possible undamaged.

Then place the pup in a shaded, ventilated area for some days, so the root you cut can form a callus.

Plant the pup in a small container with drainage holes using a succulent potting mix. Gently moisten the soil, and then place the container in a bright, warm spot.

Continue to water the plant when the top inch of the soil dries out, but don’t saturate the soil. The pup should be ready for transplanting outside in a few weeks if you wish.

 

How to Grow Agave from Seed

Agaves succulent plants can be easily grown from seed. The Agaves seedlings should develop in a few weeks after sowing.

 

Start by filling a shallow container that has drainage holes with a seed-starting mix.

Scatter the Agaves succulent plants seeds on top. (Make sure you read up on the particular species to discover whether your agave species requires light for its seeds to germinate. If so, don’t cover the Agaves seeds.)

Gently moisten the growing medium.

You need to cover the container with plastic wrap.

You need to put the container in a spot above seventy degrees Fahrenheit with bright, indirect sunlight.

You need to remove the plastic wrap when you notice that the seedlings have emerged.

If in the correct zone for growing the Agaves succulent plants year-round outside, gradually acclimate the Agaves succulent plants to outdoor living a few hours at a time, increasing the duration outdoors each day before transplanting the Agaves plant seedling outside.

 

Potting and Transplanting Agave Succulent Plants

Agaves plants is like any other succulent plants, many of the agave plants species have shallow roots. So you can grow the plant in a shallow container because the plants don’t actually need much soil. Just make sure the container is sturdy and can anchor the weight of the Agaves plant. An unglazed clay pot is perfect because it will allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls. Also, make sure the container has more than enough drainage holes.

You can use a well-draining potting mix made for succulents. You can water the container about once a week in the summer and monthly in the winter, and then wait until the soil is dry a few inches down before watering it again.

Plan to repot or transplant your agaves succulent plants every few years as the plant matures. The best time to do it is in the spring or summer. You can use a slightly larger container and fresh potting mix. Once it's mature, you can leave the plant in the same container, but plan to refresh the potting mix every couple of years.

 

 

Pest control

Agaves succulent plants generally have very few problems with disease and pests. On the other hand, the agave snout weevil can burrow into the plant’s center to lay its eggs, causing the plant to collapse. Unfortunately, you probably won’t notice this until it’s too late to save the Agaves succulent plants. Therefore, remove the plant immediately to avoid the pests spreading to any other agaves plants you might have.