AT A GLANCE
Why is my agave turning brown and what can I do about it?
Agaves turn brown when not properly cared for, such as improper overwintering, too much or too little water, wrong substrate, or sudden exposure to the sun. Optimal care and the use of mineral substrates help to prevent agaves from turning brown.
Why does the agave turn brown in winter?
Most species of agave are not hardy with us and therefore have to hibernate frost-free. However, there is a lot that can go wrong. You should definitely avoid these mistakes:
- too warm hibernation (more than 5 °C)
- Hibernation near a heater
- too little light in connection with too little water
- regular watering
also read
Agaves should be kept cool at temperatures between 0 and a maximum of 5 °C hibernate, they can also be darker (e.g. B. in the basement) and need absolutely no water! Warmer wintering specimens need extra light and occasionally little water.
Why do agave leaves turn brown in summer?
There are several reasons why the fleshy leaves turn brown during the growing season:
- no gentle acclimatization to the summer location
- too much water / waterlogging
- wrong substrate
- not enough water
After the winter break, you should not put the agave in the blazing sun right away, but slowly get the plant used to the new location - otherwise you risk an unsightly sunburn. In addition, agaves belong in mineral substrate, which does not store water - specimens in normal planting or potting soil tend to rotten roots because this substrate is too moist for the plants.
What other reasons can cause the agave to turn brown?
Too frequent watering can also lead to browning of the leaves. Agaves like it rather dry and should not be too moist. So ensure good pot drainage and avoid keeping the substrate permanently moist. Also Diseases or pests cause brown leaves or leaf spot. This damage is initially noticeable mainly through brown leaf spots. The basic cause, however, is unsuitable care such as too much moisture, since weakened agaves in particular become ill.
Do brown leaves turn green again?
Once the brown leaves have turned brown, they are irretrievably dried up and will no longer turn green. Typically, the lower, older leaves dry out first, leaving more moisture to the upper, younger ones. To a certain extent, however, it is also normal for individual old leaves to die off. Cut Simply cut them off with a sharp knife and make sure to protect yourself from the sharp spikes with sturdy gardening gloves.
Tip
Brown leaf tips indicate dryness
If not the whole leaf, but only the leaf tips and / or leaf edges turn brown, the humidity is probably too low. This is often the case when the winter is too warm. Grab a plant sprayer and spray the agave regularly (approx. once or twice a week) with room-warm, lime-free water.
