The easy-care dragon tree agave, whose leaves have no hard spines, is enjoying increasing popularity as a plant with a tropical flair. In this article you will find, in addition to a description of the pretty succulent, valuable planting and care tips.
How do you care for a dragon tree agave?
The dragon tree agave (Agave attenuata) is an easy-care succulent with soft, blue-green foliage and a robust trunk. It only needs water every two weeks, monthly cactus fertilizer and repotting in special succulent soil every three years. The plant is not hardy and should overwinter at around ten degrees.
What does the dragon tree agave look like?
The dragon tree agave (Agave attenuata), also known as foxtail or swan neck agave, hassoft, blue-green colored foliageOver time, it forms part of the family A succulent belonging to the asparagus family, it has arobust trunk,at the upper end of which the rosette-shaped leaves grow like a crest.
With good care, after about ten years, a tail-like inflorescence appears that can grow up to two meters long. The countless individual flowers with the striking yellow stamens are very rich in nectar and attract insects.
How is the dragon tree agave watered and fertilized?
Since the dragon tree agave stores moisture in its leaves, itonly needs to be watered every two weeks. Make sure that there is no waterlogging.
The agave plant is fertilized once a month from March to October with a liquid cactus fertilizer.
How often does the dragon tree agave need to be repotted?
The dragon tree agave grows rather slowly and only needs to be movedinto special soil for succulents about every three years. Choose a pot that is one or two sizes larger and make sure that the sensitive roots are not injured during this care measure.
Is the dragon tree agave hardy?
The dragon tree agaveis not hardy. Specimens cultivated outdoors during the summer must therefore be brought indoors by October at the latest.
Place the plants in a bright but cool place. Temperatures of around ten degrees are ideal.
What diseases can affect this agave?
Quite oftenthe dragon tree agave is attacked by theleaf spot disease. You can recognize these by the rounded, gray-brown spots on the surface of the leaves. Cut off the diseased foliage immediately so that the plant disease cannot spread. Alternatively, you can spray the succulent with emulsified oil twice a day.
Occasionally also occur
- Focal spot disease and
- Gray horse
up.
What pests attack the dragon tree agave?
Like many succulents, the dragon tree agave isquite popular with scale insects. Since these insect pests are stubborn and resistant, you should treat the plant with a suitable product from a specialist retailer (€28.00 on Amazon).
Rarely found
- Black Agave Weevils
- Longhorn Beetle.
These pests can also be easily controlled using commercially available products.
Tip
You can propagate dragon tree agaves yourself
Separate one of the small leaf rosettes that the mother plant forms, including the root, and place it in a pot filled with succulent soil. After just a short time, the small dragon tree agave forms more roots and sprouts new leaves.
