My agave is blooming

Marko · September 15, 2012

I have one 17 years old specimen of Agave Filifera. Four weeks ago I noticed it's going to bloom. Now the flower stalk is over 10 ft high. I wish it could stay forever at this stage, but I know this agave will be gone before winter.

matereater · September 16, 2012

wow, thats amazing!! is that the typical life cycle, blooming every 17 years ?

Marko · September 16, 2012

Steve, agave is blooming only once and then dies. Heat is essential for blooming, in colder climates it can live for decades. Agaves in mediterranean bloom
when they are ~10 years old, but my climate is a bit cooler. I must bring my succulents inside during three coldest months, but the summers are usually very hot, especially on my SW facing balcony, where the temps regularly exceeds 100 degrees.

Farmette · September 16, 2012

Are you saying that you plant your Agave's in pots and bring them in during the cold months and if so how large a pot do you use?

Marko · September 17, 2012

Yes, I bring agaves indoors during winter. I don't have large species, so they don't need large pots. You can see the size of a pot on third picture.

feldon30 · September 17, 2012

Agave are also known as Century Plants. Although I don't know that any have actually taken a full 100 years to bloom.

September 16, 2012	#2
matereater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. Michigan (Livonia) Posts: 1,264	wow, thats amazing!! is that the typical life cycle, blooming every 17 years ? __________________ Steve Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

September 17, 2012	#6
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Agave are also known as Century Plants. Although I don't know that any have actually taken a full 100 years to bloom. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

September 16, 2012	#3
Marko Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Slovenia, Europe zone 7b Posts: 300	Steve, agave is blooming only once and then dies. Heat is essential for blooming, in colder climates it can live for decades. Agaves in mediterranean bloom when they are ~10 years old, but my climate is a bit cooler. I must bring my succulents inside during three coldest months, but the summers are usually very hot, especially on my SW facing balcony, where the temps regularly exceeds 100 degrees.

September 16, 2012	#4
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	Are you saying that you plant your Agave's in pots and bring them in during the cold months and if so how large a pot do you use?