The optimum temperature range for this plant’s good growth is between 68°F to 95°F. Plus, small agave species are excellent for containers, indoors or outside. When grown in an environment they like, they need very little supplemental care from you. Fertilizing. on Jul 28, 2009. If you are a very diligent caretaker and if you provide it with perfect conditions you will find that the agave will flower more often than once a century for you. How to Grow and Care for Agave americana Light: These plants require full sun to part shade. After the development of fruit, the rosette dies. Agave Plant. Sow the seeds in spring in a container with well-draining soil. With a maximum size of around 50 cm/20” this is not the largest agave out there, but its spectacular leaves more than make up for that. The hotter the climate is, the more shade they can handle. Agaves will tolerate most soils as long as they have good drainage, but their preference is sandy or rocky soil. An agave plant typically recovers from frost when the cold temps only last a couple of hours. To prune them, use strong shears, a long sharp knife, or a curved pruning saw that are sharp to minimize any tearing and injury to yourself. Agave seeds are black, flat, and vary in size. It turns out that this was just a myth and that Agave americana, like all agaves, usually blooms between 10 to 25 years of age. As with many succulent plants, agaves have shallow roots. There are also some that are variegated with gold or white markings. Agave Plant Care Indoors. Agave plants are slow growing plants that need little care as long as they are getting plenty of very bright light. There are about 450 species of agave, including the famous century plant—which, for the record, does flower more often than once a century. Even the smaller types … Wherever you plant your fox tail agave, you will need to ensure it has good drainage. Soil. They are mildly toxic to cats and dogs. There's a lot of variety in the agave genus. A few species, like Agave parryi, are hardy down to USDA hardiness zone 5a, -20 °F (-28.9 °C). Give the plant a week or so to readjust before you water it again. Agave is a genus of about 270 recognized species of succulent plants in the family Asparagaceae. The Agave Americana, Century Plant or American Aloe is all the same plant. All Agaves are characterized by succulent or leathery leaves that form rosettes from just 6 inches (15 cm) to more than 20 feet (6.1 m) in diameter. If the pot is overcrowded with roots, go ahead and cut the roots back. They require little maintenance, and can add an exotic touch to your landscaping. Agave Plant Care. Agave plants prefer a spot with full sun, but they can tolerate a little shade. Plants that are grown in low-light conditions become etiolated. 4 Common Types of Agave Plant to Grow in Your Garden. Remove only offsets that have developed in a plant with several leaves. Keep the soil slightly moist during these times. These succulent plants have multi-layered rosettes of thick fleshy leaves with spiny margins that end in a sharp point. Agave Plant Care Guide Written by Doityourself Staff. Agave or the century plant is used widely in rock gardens because of their ability to go weeks without water. One large agave is all you need to make a sculptural focal point in the garden. Originally this plant began in Mexico. If your plants have snout weevils, the only solution is to remove the plants and throw them away. Agaves thrive on neglect. Elsewhere, check with your local Cactus & Succulent Society of America chapter. It grows fairly large—4 feet tall by 5 feet wide—and looks like an enormous artichoke! Use a well-draining potting mix made for succulents. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. With proper care, it can live up to 30 years in age. Limit watering in fall and winter. Then, water once a week, gradually spacing watering to every other week, depending on rainfall. As a desert plant, agave appreciates direct, abundant sunlight, and light water. They are native to the arid and semiarid regions of the Americas, mainly Mexico and the Caribbean. All rights reserved. Water when the soil is dry. A very hardy Agave from northeastern Mexico, Agave striata (Narrow Leaf Century Plant) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming interesting rosettes of thin, gray-green leaves with a sharp, dark brown terminal spine. These plants are easy to maintain, and are beautiful and ornamental. Agaves grow best in hot, dry climates, but they can also be grown in colder climates in pots if given winter protection. Place the planting container in a warm place with bright, indirect sunlight and keep the soil moist until germination, which usually takes two to three weeks. Agave can be exceptional houseplants, depending on which one you buy. During the growing season, Agave plants like warm temperatures, while in winter, when resting, they like cooler temperatures. Plan to repot your agave plant every couple of years with new soil. The leaves, stalks, flowers, and sap all are edible. produces thick, fleshy, sword-shaped leaves. Agaves are easy to propagate by removing the offsets that develop around the base of an established plant. The dying plant would produce shoots that grow into another century plant. Inspect the leaves of the agave plant for black spots. One of the most cold-tolerant Agave species, this gorgeous plant grows at elevations up to 9,000 feet in the montane wilds of Mexico. In some species, the inflorescences can reach more than 33 feet (10 m) in height. There are the large, stiff specimens that can grow to 10 feet or more in height and width. generally are succulents with large leaves that end in spiny tips. But there are some, such as Agave parryi, that are reliably perennial to zone 5. The generic name "Agave" derives from the Greek "agavos," meaning "noble, admirable or splendid.". Most Agaves are easy to grow and take little care once established. Agave Plant Care Basics photo credit Over Doz (CC BY-NC 2.0) Agaves thrive in full sun, all day long. When fully developed, the plant features large, copious dark green leaves with sharp, serrated margins. Just remember Agaves are somewhat prickly, and this is especially true of the larger varieties. For most agave species, once the flowers produce berry seed pods, the plant dies. Remove already infected plants to prevent spread. So you can grow them in a shallow container because they don’t need much soil. Agave americana care is small amount of water to not overwater, full sun to half shade and prune dead leaves and dead plant plants died after blooming and need to take bloom stem and the plant down to let the new plants place to grow. These plants require full sun to partial shade. It has quickly spread and is now part the landscape of the United States as well as other countries. Be sure that your container has at least one drain hole. No matter the reason, a blue agave plant is relatively easy to take care of with the right light and soil. Roots will typically appear in two to three weeks. Since feeding may encourage Agaves to bloom, it may lead to premature death. Written by: Norman Category: Garden Ornamental Plants, Shrubs, Bulbs, Bromeliads And Ground Covers Published: April 30, 2019 Having success with growing and caring for the agave plant. Repotting Agave can be tricky because of the sharp spikes and spines. If you are looking for a low maintenance plant that will really work … Agave salmiana is a large growing plant, hence the name “Giant Agave.” Under ideal growing conditions, the succulent heightens up to 6’ feet and spreads up to 12’ feet. Then, give the plant a week or so to adjust before you water it again. Agaves are grown for their dramatic foliage, not their flowers. Pairing them with ornamental grasses softens their hard edges. Just make sure there is plenty of room to walk around it, so no one accidentally brushes against the spiny tips. No matter which name it is called, the plant is striking wherever it is planted. Hot, arid regions of the Americas; also some tropical areas. Your agave plant should be near your home or on a patio space that gets heat from the house. In fact, feeding encourages flowering, which you don’t want to happen too soon because most agave plants die after flowering. While many requirements of the agave plant are dependent upon the species, the type of soil is … Give your Agaves a small amount of fertilizer in the spring during the first two years. The majority of agave plants can't tolerate frost and only can grow as far north as USDA growing zones 8 or 9. This is … It's typically best to plant this slow-growing succulent in the spring or early fall. Agave Cactus Planting. You can remove these insects with a cotton ball dipped in some isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Century Plant (Agave) is a hardy survivor plant that can tolerate extreme heat and drought. Established plants seem to take care of themselves. It just goes by different names. Just make sure the container can anchor the weight of the plant. Too much direct sunlight, when plants are not acclimated, can cause sunburn. Agave houseplant care includes watering as necessary for most succulents. The leaves of the Carribean agave are pale green in color with a creamy margin and… If you're in Tucson: Starr Nursery. Agave plant care for container grown plants is otherwise the same and it affords you the ability to bring sensitive forms indoors when temperatures plummet. If the pot is overcrowded with roots, go ahead and cut the roots back. Mealybugs and scale insects attach to the leaves and suck the juices out of them. The Agave tequilana (also known as Weber’s Blue Agave or tequila agave) is a succulent plant native to North America, specifically Mexico. When Agave plants flowering are ready to bloom, the plant shoots out a stalk that can grow up to 9 meters in height. The fox tail agave does not like to sit in soggy conditions, so a well-draining soil is vital to maintaining its health. Agaves also can make a nice border grouping and are a textural contrast with other plants. Agaves earned the name “Century plants” because Agave americana was thought to only bloom after living for 100 years. Unfortunately, you probably won’t notice this until it’s too late to save the plant. Botanical Name: Agave angustifolia. Mature plants are very drought tolerant. Agave is a succulent or water-retaining plant, originally from Mexico, which is also found in some parts of the United States and South America. Wait until the surface of the soil is dry before watering. In winter, water sparingly about once a month. Agaves generally have very few problems with pests and diseases. The Agave tequilana plant is from the Asparagaceae family of plants.It grows really fast, and they have large and pointy rosettes that resemble swords. Sometimes referred to as the agave cactus, the agave plant (Agave spp.) Although these plants have been used as food for centuries, some Agave species contain toxic compounds that can cause mouth, throat, or skin irritation. Agave americana care. Overwatering may encourage fungal root rot. Feeding typically isn't necessary for agave plants. From spring to fall, water thoroughly your Agave when the soil becomes dry. The common name refers to the long time that plant takes to flower. Always use a container with drainage holes, and grow the plant in well-draining soil. However, the real time is more like twenty to thirty years. When the plant matures, a tall, branched, or unbranched stalk grows out from the center of the rosette and produces a large number of long-lasting flowers. Different varieties average 1 to 20 feet tall and 1 to 10 feet wide. Poor soil drainage can lead to root rot, which can kill a plant. Agave plants in containers will require more water than those in the ground and will need to be re-potted every year or so to replenish soil and root prune the plant. Freezing temps makes the agave leaves turn black, ultimately drying up and dropping off. Simply separate one of these pups from the main plant using a sharp knife, leave it to dry for a few days and then plant … However, the agave snout weevil can burrow into a plant’s center to lay its eggs, causing the plant to collapse. Agave plants love going outside from spring to fall. However, when you are first establishing a plant, water it every four or five days for the first month. However, throughout the lifetime, most of the Agaves produce rhizomatous suckers that grow into new plants. So it is an ideal plant for beginners who are just starting out in the plant care world. Outdoors, they can be used in summer bedding schemes or in large containers to make a focal point. Plants in containers require more frequent watering than those in the ground. The agave plant’s moniker as the hundred-year flowering plant is not wholly true. One of the most commonly grown species is Agave americana, also known as Century Plant. Agave plants are commonly referred to as Century Plants. Most species are monocarpic. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. When agave matures after several years or even several decades, a tall flower stalk often grows out of the plant’s center. The seedlings can be transplanted to individual pots when they have two or three leaves. Agave Atrovirens Agave Salmiana Care Growth and Size. A few Agave species are polycarpic and can flower several times during their life. Where summer temps are extremely hot, they can tak e partial shade and still perform well. Agave plants will tolerate any well-draining soil, but their preference is rocky or sandy soil. Moreover, most agaves prefer a climate with low humidity. Separate the offsets from the mother plant and remove all broken or damaged roots with a sharp knife. If you are growing Agaves indoors, choose a bright, sunny window with as much sun as possible. Most plants only bloom once in their lifetime. Agaves can be susceptible to bacterial and fungal rots if exposed to too much moisture and humidity. They like full sunlight, although some shade is okay, too, and soil that’s sandy, rocky and free-draining. If you are growing Agave s indoors, choose a bright, sunny window with as much sun possible. Water the container about once a week in the summer and monthly in the winter. 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