Many agave species are not hardy outdoors in most locations in Central Europe without special protective measures. Therefore, agaves are usually cultivated in a pot so that they can be placed in a sheltered place for the winter months.

Agaves thrive in pots

Choose the right planter and location

You can save the agaves in the pot unnecessary stress if you choose a container when repotting that offers the plant enough space for the next two to three years. So you don't have to repot the agaves every year after the winter. Agaves love strong sunlight and can usually be placed in full sun without any problems. You should only water an agave in a pot when the soil in the pot is already dry and crumbly on the surface. After all, an oversupply of water is one of the most common care mistakes in agaves and can lead to rotting of the roots and later the whole plant.

This substrate belongs in the pot for the cultivation of agaves

Based on the natural distribution areas of agaves, potted agaves should not simply be planted in just any soil. You can easily mix the right substrate for agaves yourself from the following components:

  • pumice
  • lavalite
  • quartz sand
  • lava granules

Mix a good third of the materials listed with around two-thirds of commercially available potting soil and also ensure there are sufficient water drainage options in the planter used. Alternatively, you can also use cactus soil that has already been mixed. When transplanting the agaves into a larger pot, the substrate used should also be replaced.

Properly care for and overwinter agaves in pots

It is quite normal for agaves if the lowermost leaves turn yellow and die at some point. Only cut off the leaves when they are completely dry. Failure to do so could result in moisture loss and disease at the interfaces. After spending the winter in a bright winter quarters, you should make sure that the plants slowly get used to direct sunlight again.

tips

Before transporting between winter quarters and outdoor location, you can put wine bottle corks on the leaf tips of the agave to minimize the risk of injury from the sharp spikes.

Category:

Vegetable garden