Grow this striking succulent indoors or in your garden
Agaveplants aresucculentswith large leaves that end in pointy tips.
Agaves have a lot of variety, with over 250 species in the agave genus.
A few agave species have soft leaves and no spines.
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Agave grows best in rocky, sandy, well-drained soil in full sun.
Note that raw agave sap is toxic to people and pets.
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What Is Agave Used for?
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They come out easily with a hand shovel when small.
But they can tolerate a little shade.
The hotter the climate is, the more shade they can handle.
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Soil
Agave plants tolerate any well-draining soil but prefer rocky or sandy soil.
Poor soil drainage can lead to root rot, killing a plant.
Moreover, they like a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH.
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Water
Mature agave plants are very drought tolerant.
However, when establishing a plant, water it every four or five days for the first month.
Then, water once a week, and gradually space watering to every other week, depending on rainfall.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
But some, such asAgave parryi, are reliablyperennialto zone 5.
Moreover, most agaves prefer a climate with low humidity.
High humidity can lead to crown rot on the plant.
Agave attenuataiPhotographer62 / Getty Images
Fertilizer
Feeding typically isn’t necessary for agave plants.
Some are variegated with gold or white markings.
They can be propagated from these pups.
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Heres how:
How to Grow Agave From Seed
Its typically easy to grow agaves from seed.
Seedlings should develop in a few weeks after sowing.
Potting and Transplanting Agave
As with many succulent plants, many agave species have shallow roots.
Agave tequilanaLuis Echeverri Urrea / Getty Images
So you’re free to grow them in a shallow container because they don’t need much soil.
Just verify the container is sturdy and can anchor the weight of the plant.
An unglazed clay pot is ideal because it will allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through its walls.
Agave parvifloraphanasitti / Getty Images
Also, double-check the container has ample drainage holes.
Use a well-draining potting mix made for succulents.
Water the container about once a week in the summer and monthly in the winter.
Wait until the soil is dry a few inches down before watering.
Plan to repot or transplant your agave plant every few years as it matures.
The best time is in the spring or summer.
Use a slightly larger container and fresh potting mix.
Overwintering
Agaves must be kept indoors for the winter when grown outside their hardiness zones.
Bring them in before any threat of frost in the weather forecast.
Keep the container by your brightest window, and ensure it’s not in the path of cold drafts.
Water sparingly throughout the winter.
A good rule of thumb is to water just enough to keep the leaves plump.
Common Pests
Agaves generally have very few problems with pests and diseases.
So, remove the plant to avoid the pests spreading to any other agaves you might have.
How to Get Agave to Bloom
Agaves are grown for their dramatic foliage.
It’s monocarpic, meaning it will bloom only once in its lifetime.
For most agave species, the plant dies once the flowers produce berry seed pods.
Giving agave fertilizer can prompt it to bloom prematurely.
How Long Does an Agave Bloom?
The tall flower stalk can grow 15 to 35 feet tall.
Each of the flowers on the flowering stem lasts about a month.
After the main plant blooms, it dies, so there is no chance of reblooming.
What Do Agave Flowers Look and Smell Like?
A large, spike-like stem will emerge from the center of the plant.
The flowers are bell-shaped and long-lasting in white, yellow, and green shades.
Agave flowers are full of sugary sweet nectar, used as a sugar substitute.
Some agave plants develop bulbils or baby plants all along the main central stock.
you could twist off a few and replant them to propagate new agave plants.
Otherwise, plan to dig up the agave plant and its dead rhizome to make space for new plantings.
Common Problems With Agave
When grown in the conditions they like, agaves rarely have problems.
However, some environmental issues can cause a plant to struggle.
Drooping Leaves
Drooping leaves can be a sign of the agave snout weevil.
But they also can be due to incorrect watering.
Overwatering can cause the roots to rot.
Ensure you allow sufficient time between waterings for the top few inches of soil to dry out.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Overwatering also is a common culprit for yellowing leaves on agave plants.
Yellow leaves also can be due to insufficient sunlight, which causes the plant to lose its vibrancy.
Monitor your plant throughout the day to ensure it’s not being shaded for long stretches.
If so, consider moving it to a sunnier spot.
When grown in the conditions they like, agave plant care is easy.
They are hardy and require little maintenance.
One large agave is all it’s crucial that you make a sculptural focal point in the garden.
Ensure there is plenty of room to walk around it so no one accidentally brushes against the pointy tips.
Agaves also can make a nice border grouping and provide textural contrast with other plants.
Pairing them withornamental grassescan soften their hard edges.
Plus, small agave species are excellent for growing in container gardens.
Agave plants are generally slow-growing and can take years to mature.
Agave and aloe look alike, live in dry, hot climates, and are drought-tolerant succulents.
However, they come from different plant families and opposite parts of the world.
Aloe natively comes from Africa, and agave comes from the Americas.
North Carolina State University Extension Plant Toolbox.
Siroka Z.Toxicity of house plants to pet animals.Toxins.
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Global Invasive Species Database.
“Agave Snout Weevils.”
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County.Arizona.edu.
