How often should agaves be watered?
As plants originally native to deserts and semi-deserts, agaves need a location that is as sunny as possible for healthy growth. The plants are adapted to a climate with irregular rainfall and store a lot of water in the thick leaves. In the garden bed or in the pot Agaves should only be watered when the top layer of soil around the plants has dried. The root ball below the leaf rosette does not tolerate waterlogging, but must never dry out completely. In midsummer you should water agaves sparingly every few days, in Winter quarters on the other hand, the plants should hardly be watered. As soon as the leaves become thin and wrinkled, agaves should be watered urgently.
also read
- Cultivate the agave in your own garden
- Does the agave form a usable fruit in the garden?
- Hibernate the agave outside in the garden
What should be considered when repotting agaves?
Agaves are relatively unproblematic in terms of repotting, usually every one to two years when the plants are winterized in the garden, they are moved to a somewhat larger planter. The substrate should always be a mixture of two thirds
Potting soil and a third of sand (e.g. B. Quartz sand) can be used. Larger stones and holes in the lower area of the planter prevent dangerous waterlogging in the root area of the agaves.When and how should agaves be cut?
Since the leaf rosettes of the agaves grow very compact anyway, pruning these plants is generally not necessary. Yellow or putrid leaves should be as close as possible to the roots as early as possible cut off without damaging the stalk of the plant. This removal of dead leaves results in a stem-like, woody plant base in particularly old specimens over time.
Which pests can be dangerous to agaves in the garden?
The agaves, which are very robust in themselves, are occasionally attacked by the following pests:
- Scale insects
- Mealybugs
- Palm weevil
You can get rid of the scale and mealybugs relatively easily with a sponge and a small amount of detergent solution. Unfortunately, there is still no effective antidote to the larvae of the notorious palm weevil.
Are there common diseases that affect agaves?
In this country, agaves are not attacked by diseases very often. If the leaves discolour or die, this is usually due to incorrect care such as soil that is too moist.
How is the agave optimally fertilized?
During hibernation, you shouldn't use the agave at all fertilize, in the summer months can be done sparingly with a suitable one about every two weeks Complete fertilizer be fertilized in the irrigation water.
What should be considered when overwintering the agave?
While many agaves can only tolerate slight freezing temperatures for short periods of time, others survive species the winter with a certain winter protection also outdoors. You should therefore pay close attention to the care instructions for your respective agave specimens. Agaves that are not frost-hardy are ideally overwintered at around 4 to 14 degrees Celsius in a light spot in the house. If you do not have a suitably tempered and bright stairwell, basement or attic room, a rather cool room in the apartment, such as the bedroom, can be an option.
Tips
There are very many different ones Agave speciesthat are not just in the respective Frost tolerance, but also differ in their growth rate and size. Over the years, an agave cultivated in a tub can reach dimensions that make it necessary to move to winter quarters and back to the garden turn into a real feat of strength. For year-round maintenance on the windowsill, you should choose agaves from specialist retailers, which are generally rather slow-growing and remain relatively small.
