Many agave species are not hardy outdoors in most locations in Central Europe without special protective measures. That's why agaves are usually cultivated in a pot so that they can be placed in a protected place for the winter months.
How do I properly care for an agave in a pot?
To cultivate an agave in a pot, you need a suitable planter and substrate, consisting of pumice gravel, lavalite, quartz sand, lava granules and commercially available potting soil. Choose a sunny location, water sparingly and slowly accustom the agave to direct sunlight after overwintering.
Choose the right planter and location
You can save the agaves in the pot unnecessary stress if, when repotting, you choose a container that offers the plant enough space for the next two to three years. This means you don't have to repot the agaves every year after wintering. 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 surface of the soil in the pot is already dry and crumbly. After all, an oversupply of water is one of the most common care mistakes for agaves and can lead to rotting of the roots and later the entire plant.
This substrate belongs in the pot for growing agaves
In keeping with the natural distribution areas of agaves, potted agaves should not simply be planted in any soil. You can easily mix together the right substrate for agaves yourself from the following ingredients:
- Pumice gravel
- Lavalit
- Quartz sand
- Lava Granules
Mix a good third of the materials listed with about two thirds of commercially available potting soil and also ensure there is sufficient water drainage in the planter used. Alternatively, you can also use already mixed cactus soil. When transplanting the agave into a larger pot, the substrate used should also be replaced.
Properly care for and overwinter agave plants in pots
It is completely normal for agave plants for the lowest leaves to turn yellow and die at some point. Only cut off the leaves when they are completely dry. Otherwise there could be a loss of moisture and disease infestation at the interfaces. After overwintering in a bright winter quarter, you should make sure that you slowly get the plants used to direct sunlight again.
Tip
Before transporting between the winter quarters and the outdoor location, you can put wine bottle corks on the ends of the agave leaves to minimize the risk of injury from the sharp spines.
