Many types of agave are not hardy outdoors in this country and are therefore usually cultivated as potted plants on the balcony or terrace. If the agaves get bigger over time, they should be regularly transplanted into a new or larger pot.
How should you properly repot an agave?
The best time to repot an agave is in spring, immediately after wintering. Repot in a larger pot with a drainage layer and a special, nutrient-poor substrate, without cutting back the leaves. Offshoots can be carefully separated and used for propagation.
Time and procedure
In principle, other times are possible for repotting agaves, but it is advisable to change the pot immediately after wintering in the spring. While cutting back roots or leaves often has a stimulating effect on plant growth with other plant species, this should be avoided if possible with agaves. Since agaves can suffer significantly from damp, sore spots, yellow leaves at the base should only be cut off after they have completely dried out. Even without pruning, the agaves should be given a slightly larger planter by repotting about every two to three years.
The suitable substrate for the agave pot
Special substrate mixtures for cacti are available commercially for succulent plants such as agaves. These are relatively low in nutrients and reduce the risk of waterlogging in the root area of the plants. After you have provided the base of the prepared planter with drainage holes and a drainage layer of coarse gravel or clay shards, you can also pour your own soil mixture into the pot consisting of two thirds of ordinary potting soil and one third of the following ingredients:
- Lava stones
- Pumice gravel
- Quartz sand
These substrate proportions ensure less water storage in the soil and thus prevent dangerous waterlogging in the root area of the agaves.
When repotting, think about propagation
If you are already disrupting the natural growth of the agaves with care measures such as repotting, you can also think about propagating the plants. Carefully separate the offshoots called Kindel from the mother plant with a sharp knife and place them in dry planting substrate. Like the mother plant, the offshoots may only be watered again about two to three weeks after repotting.
Tip
Even if you don't mind the spines on the tips of the agave leaves during the year, they can become a real risk of injury when repotting. You can put wine corks or similar materials on the spines before repotting and remove them again if necessary after successful repotting.
