Agaves are strike architectural plants that fly high in hot , dry conditions . Their rosettes of sozzled , spiky leave come in a range of shapes like spirals , gig , and artichoke - same variety . Though agave flower just once before dying , they produce newfangled young plants called pup that let you boom your aggregation well .
watch how to properly plant agave pups see to it you may propagate these succulents at no cost . With a little know - how , you ’ll soon have gorgeous new American aloe to grow in garden beds or container
Where Do Agave Pups Come From?
Agaves reproduce in two style . First , they place up a tall peak stalk covered in blooms , then die after flowering . But years before that , they sire pups . An agave grows brusque underground halt called rhizomes from its theme . At the end of the rhizomes form lilliputian fresh American aloe called pup or offsets .
The modest pups are attached to the parent plant underground , feed in off it until they bring about their own roots . Eventually the connectedness withers away . Then the pup can be removed and plant independently , create clone of the original agave .
How to Identify Agave Pups
learn around the theme of your agave frequently to tell apart pups as before long as they emerge . Look for tiny rosettes form around the mature agave . The diminutive new plant will resemble miniature interlingual rendition of the parent .
Some agave species , like Parry ’s agave ( Agave parryi ) only produce a few pups at a time . But other kinds like C plant ( Agave americana ) pop them out prolifically , sometimes overrunning a space .
Recognizing pups ahead of time lets you remove them while still minor for the easiest transplanting . Mature , large pups can also be planted , but want more oeuvre .
When to Remove and Plant Agave Pups
It ’s salutary to detach agave pups when they are small , about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the parent plant Carefully dig down to come up the connecting rhizome and sever it with clean , shrewd pruners .
attempt to retain as many of the whelp ’s root integral as potential . speedily flora removed pup in prepared dirt so roots do n’t dry out .
whelp can technically be removed and planted any time , but leaping and fall are ideal . Cooler temperature help reduce transplant accent . forefend planting in mid - summer when spicy Sunday damages tender unexampled roots .
How to Plant Agave Pups
take into account the cut end to calloused over for 2 - 3 days before plant . Lay on juiceless grease out of direct sun . A callous forms to protect the injury .
pick out a site with full Lord’s Day and well - draining land . Amend remains soil with extra gritty material like gumption or perlite .
Dig a hole at least twice as wide as needed for the pup . Spread out the root in the hole ; American aloe have shallow , spread roots .
Backfill with a 1:1 blend of cactus / succulent stain and aboriginal stain from the trap . tamp down down gently .
make a water lavatory around the planted pup . Irrigate thoroughly until pee drains out the bottom .
Add a layer of pebbles or gravel as mulch to retain wet . Keep soil systematically dampish until established .
Let the transplant dry slimly between watering once root form , usually within a few weeks .
Caring for Agave Pups
With proper planting and care , your new agave pups will flourish :
Water pretty until flora are show , then taper off .
Avoid overwatering , which guff tenderise young roots and crown .
If planting in the earth , amend heavy or dense soil with redundant coarse-grained material .
Use cactus fertilizer a few times per year to support growth .
Protect pups from frost harm until well rooted by cover or proceed into shelter .
industrial plant very tender varieties like Queen Victoria agave in containers that can move indoors in cold month .
Tips for Transplanting Large Agave Pups
large , honest-to-god pups can also be transplanted , but ask a bit more care :
Cut the link up rhizome with a shovel , tongue or see .
allow for the cut end to callous over for a week before planting .
Dig an spare - wide muddle to accommodate the agave pup ’s size of it .
Carefully move the pup using move up straps or turn over on organ pipe .
jam soil firmly around the base to stabilize it . Stake tall leaves if needed .
weewee good at planting time and provide supplemental irrigation while establishing .
With proper timing and care , those agave pup will reward you with unique new succulent to enjoy for year . And since agave pups are free , you may pass around plenty to portion out with gardening friends too !
Get My Free Guide to Gardening in the Desert
Tag Archive for: How to Plant Agave pups
artichoke agave ( Agave parryi ‘ truncata ’ )
Today as I was downloading exposure from my earphone , this one captivate my eye . It is a photograph of an artichoke agave ( Agave parryi ‘ truncata ’ ) along with her babies . For some rationality , it speak to me about family relationships . Some of her youngest kids are go too far , like when our kid were tot and they walked out into the street without being scared .
Some of her youngest fry are going too far , like when ours were tot and they walked out into the street without being frightened . Then there are babies who are a little older — I like to call them “ tweens”—but still want to be protected by their mom while looking out into the mankind .
Then there are the slightly older baby who are still hide out under their mother ’s protective leaves . I wish to call these babies “ tweens ” because they still feel safe under their mother ’s care while bet out at the globe ’s wonders .
The medium - sized agave baby is the teenager who thinks they are independent but is actually still connected to their female parent by an secret root . It ’s like how they depend on their parent for money , their phone , and rides to and from school day .
This one is my favorite because it show how I experience about my two oldest daughters and their kinship with their mother . Even though they are different , they like being close to their mom and ask her for advice . They also wish spending fourth dimension together .
Black Spine Agave ( Agave macroacantha )
A set of different kinds of agave flora procreate by have “ pups , ” which are connected to the parent industrial plant by an underground stem . These new American aloe can be remove and replanted elsewhere in the landscape . It ’s not hard to do and I indite about how to do this , which you may take here .
Have you ever replant an agave baby ?
I am verbalise about Agave babies , which are sleep with as ‘ pups ’ .
Parry ’s Agave with small puppy .
I acknowledge that my Parry ’s Agave , above , had a little pup turn . It has been getting bigger while I view it . I require to give it some time to rise on its own before I take it away .
I did n’t intend to brag to my neighbor to the north , but it was a endearing day to be in the garden , so I engage advantage of the sunlight ’s warmth while I crack pictures . It has been rather cold lately ( for us forsake dweller anyway ) and today was a beautiful 68 degrees .
- I promise I will be envying your conditions come August … .
Yesterday , I saw the outset of a little whelp breaking through on the other side of the same Agave ( far left corner of the picture ) . Well , as I was upload the picture , I was in for another surprise . I discover another pup growing justly next to the Agave . I require to determine where to put three Agave parryi pup in my garden . This is a corking problem to have . It costs a lot to purchase them and they do n’t have many pups compare to other Agave species .
Victoria Agave ( Agave victoria - reginae ) parent plant life and pups .
This is another of my best-loved Agaves . How many whelp can you see growing from the bounteous parent plant ? I see three , but there ’s one more that ’s not in the icon . This Agave is also highly prized and expensive . Most Victoria Agave plants do n’t have pup , so I ’m glad mine was kind enough to give me 4 .
Agave lophantha with two pups .
Agave reproduce in two ways . One is by bloom at the death of their lifespan . The other way happens earlier in the Agave ’s life duet and that is by produce outset call ‘ pups ’ . The Agave send out runners underground that produce the puppy . The puppy can be located right up next to the parent Agave or a few feet away .
Agave macroacantha with many pups growing around it .
To polish off , cautiously reveal the runner and cut with pruning shear or a knifelike tongue mold well too . Before planting , the Agave whelp needs to get a callus on the bottom . Leave it in a dry , shady place for at least a week . Agave whelp can be planted out in the garden or placed in a container . Even well , you’re able to give some to your protagonist .
I would do this in the springtime or return rather of the live summer months , when the Agave pup is already having a tough time grow roots that can plume up pee . But , that being said , Agave whelp can be plant class - circular .
Agave americana with pups .
When most people think of Agave , they think of Agave americana ( above ) . I really like the blue - gray leaf , but I ’m not break to use this Agave because it makes so many pup . This requires a lot of maintenance because the pups need to be taken out often or they quickly grow into a mess . I ’ve worked with a lot of clients who had to pull out their Agave americana because of this .
Agave desmettiana with two large pup . This Agave embark on life as a whelp and was transplant 4 years ago . It ’s parent Agave flowered 3 years ago and died .
Okay , I include , I am not the most unionised nurseryman . I should have submit these large pups ( on the right ) and transplanted them last twelvemonth . But , I promise I will as soon as it warms up . So , please do not wait to do this as long as I did . Agave pups do best when planted when they are little .
or else of Agave americana , Agave desmettiana ( above ) is a upright option because it gets vainglorious without making too many pups . It also has smoother edges in contrast to Agave americana .
This picture has nothing to do with the post itself , but my dog , Missy , loves to pose for video whenever she can .
As does my Word …
How to Re-Pot Agave Babies
FAQ
How do you polish off and plant agave pups ?
When to graft agave whelp ?
How to propagate agave pups without solution ?
How do you establish a agave PUP ?
Before plant your Agave pup , it is important to prepare the stain . The grease should be well - draining , so it is best to mix in some grit or gravel to increase drain . to boot , you may want to add a stratum of mulch to aid retain wet and protect the antecedent system of the pup . Once the soil is prepared , it is time to plant the pup .
Can agave pups grow in a mess ?
To fend off this , appropriate your agave pup to dry and cure for several days before planting . Agaves require excellent drainage and aeration . When potting Agave pup apply a lush land premix or add surplus pumice or lava rock , horticultural sand or bother as an amendment . range the plant ’s summit high in the pot and do n’t cover it with anything , even mulch .
What variety of stain do agave pups like ?
Agave whelp prefer territory that is well - draining and lightweight , such as cactus mix or succulent - specific potting dirt . If your soil is too dense , it can cause the roots to become waterlogged , leading to root rot .
How are agave puppy attached to the mother plant ?
The pups are attach to the mother plant by a thick , fleshy root . In the photo above , you could see that the pups are begin to shape their own roots , branching out to the side . At this point , abbreviate the thick ancestor and remove the piffling pup . Now this same adult agave had another pup , which was attached at the base .
