Although many agave species can take decades to flower, these succulents, which are similar to cacti, are very popular with many hobby gardeners. After all, the leaves are green all year round and form an exotic-looking leaf rosette.

The agave is a pretty, low-maintenance houseplant

Sensitivity to frost as a reason for indoor culture

While some agaves can also survive certain sub-zero temperatures outdoors, others with their water-filled leaves are extremely sensitive to frost. So you can save yourself the hassle of rearranging the agaves between house and garden and grow this interesting and decorative plant permanently in the house. Since agaves originally grow in desert-like areas, they usually tolerate strong sunlight and sometimes extreme temperatures on the windowsill very well. However, the plants do better if they are placed a little cooler during the winter period with their reduced incidence of daylight. The following rooms are well suited for wintering pot-grown agaves due to the cooler temperatures:

  • unheated attics
  • bright basement rooms
  • stairwells
  • bedroom
  • light-flooded garages
  • unheated conservatories

Choosing the right agave species for the windowsill

If you get the offspring of an agave as an offshoot, it may seem inconspicuous at first. However, large agave species can become too big for the windowsill in just a few years. It is therefore better to choose a slower and more compact growing agave species as a houseplant, for example:

  • Agave stricta
  • Agave victoriae reginae
  • Agave potatorum

Agave species in which the leaves have a yellowish border are also particularly decorative.

Beware of injuries

When choosing an agave for the windowsill, you should also pay attention to the formation of spines on the leaves of the specific species. In an emergency, you can stick small pieces of cork on the spikes at the ends of the leaves. It is also possible to carefully remove the spines, but every cut in the agave is associated with the risk of possible diseases and damage to the leaves.

tips

While agaves are watered very little outdoors, when cultivated as a houseplant, more regular watering is necessary. After all, the plant cannot use water from the morning dew that drips off as usual. You can add some liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water about every two weeks during the summer season.

Category:

Vegetable garden