Presentation of agave montana
Fact sheet : | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Agave montana |
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Other name | Mountain Agave |
| Etymology | Comes from the Greek word “αγαθος” which means “admirable” |
| Origin | Mexico |
| Dimensions | Height of approximately 1 m for a width of 1.20 m when mature |
| Flower color(s) | Yellows |
| Leaf color(s) | Light green |
| Appearance of the flowers | Panicle |
| Appearance of the leaves | Rigid, fleshy leaves, arranged in a rosette and with toothed edges |
| Plant type | Succulent |
| Vegetation | Perennial |
| Foliage in winter | Persistent |
Culture sheet: | |
|---|---|
| Planting |
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
Jul.
August
Seven.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec. |
| Growth | Slow |
| Exposure | Full sun |
| Ground | Drained, Stony, Limestone, Poor |
| Humidity | Weak |
| Use | Pot, Tray, Massif, Rockery |
| Multiplication | Semi |
| Disease(s) and pest(s) | Resistant but sensitive to humidity |
What is the ideal light and exposure for mountain agave?
Like all agaves, mountain agave needs to be exposed to full sun to develop wonderfully. But be careful to install it where the spines of its leaves cannot present any risk of injury to people passing nearby. It will find its place admirably in a rock garden or on an embankment, but also in a pot or in a container on a terrace.
What is the ideal temperature for mountain agave?
As its name suggests and unlike many other agaves, agave montana does not originate from desert or semi-desert regions, but from mountainous areas of northeastern Mexico. This origin makes it a plant more resistant to episodes of frost and capable of withstanding temperatures down to -20°C, provided it is installed in perfectly drained soil and protected from winter rains.
Like all agaves, mountain agaves grow mainly when it is hot, but its growth stops when it is very hot or cold.
Watering the agave montana
Agave being a succulent plant, it is capable of storing water. This means that agave montana, like others, does not need to be watered frequently or abundantly.
- If you grow your agave montana in the ground: Watering is generally not necessary except during prolonged dry spells.
- If you grow your agave montana in a pot or container: in the summer, you must make sure to water it as soon as its substrate is dry. On the other hand, when the bad season arrives and the temperatures cool, it is important to start reducing watering until stopping it in winter, to the extent that the plant then goes dormant. Be careful to avoid excess humidity, as it could be fatal for your plant.
Ideal atmospheric humidity
It is a plant adapted to dry climates, which fears humidity. If you grow it outdoors, it is advisable to install a tunnel or any other solution of your choice to protect it from heavy rain.
What types of soil and fertilizer for your agave montana?
Earth
Whatever cultivation method you adopt, in the ground or in a pot, you must make sure to plant your agave in perfectly draining soil or substrate.
- For cultivation in open ground: To promote the evacuation of rainwater and the dreaded excess humidity, you can install your agave on land with a slope, even slight. With the same objective of improving water drainage, it is strongly recommended to add sand to the garden soil and, at the time of planting, to install a bed of gravel at the bottom of the hole. Likewise, to preserve the freshness of the soil when temperatures are very high, you can install mineral mulch around its base. Avoid organic mulches which tend to retain moisture and encourage plant rot.
- For growing in a pot : you can opt for a potting soil suitable for succulents or for soil with added sand. Here too, a bed of clay balls or gravel at the bottom of the pot is necessary to ensure water drainage.
Fertilizer
Fertilizers and other amendments are generally not necessary for agaves which thrive in rather poor soils.
Planting and repotting mountain agave
In the open ground
As seen previously, you can plant your montana agave in a rockery or on a slight slope benefiting from optimal sunshine, even if the soil is poor.
Caution: When planting, be sure to leave a space of about 2.5 cm between the base of the plant, called the crown, and the ground, as this is the part of the plant most prone to rot. .
The development of this plant being rather slow, there is no point in reserving a large location for it. To enhance it, you can install ground cover plants adapted to dry soils around its base.
Pot
In colder regions, agave can be grown in pots. This will allow you to transfer your plant to a sheltered location if temperatures drop too low. In winter, it is also possible to protect your agave with a winter sail.
Be careful to choose, from the start, a pot large enough to avoid having to repot it too often, even if its development is relatively slow. Don’t forget that the mountain agave is armed with thorns which make it difficult to handle!
How to propagate agave montana?
Unlike many other agaves, mountain agaves do not produce shoots. This means thatit can only be multiplied by sowing. But for this, the flowers must be pollinated to produce seeds.
In some cases, it may be necessary to pollinate by hand. After obtaining seeds, you can sow them in a pot when the temperature is between 13 and 18°C. You then have to wait about 1 month for the seeds to emerge. Once the plants reach 5 cm, you can transplant them.
How to prune it?
Mountain agave is a plant that does not require pruning.
Cleaning the plant
Agave montana requires little maintenance. To preserve its beautiful aesthetic appearance, it may sometimes be necessary to remove dry leaves. To do this, remember to equip yourself with thick gardening gloves. If you are growing your agave indoors, it may be helpful to remove any dust that accumulates on the leaves using a brush.
Agave species and varieties: there are many species
Agave brings together many species and varieties which differ in their hardiness, the color of their leaves, their size, their flowering, etc. When purchasing an agave, do not hesitate to find out about all these points to have one truly adapted to the climate of your region and your desires.
The agave montana, for its part, is one of the most rusticbut you can also choose:
The 5 points to remember about mountain agave
- The mountain agave can be installed in a dry garden even in regions where winter is more severe, since it withstands temperatures down to -20°C provided it is protected from winter rains.
- It is a plant that is able to resist drought.
- Agave is easy to grow and requires little maintenance.
- It brings a touch of exoticism to any garden and is very graphic.
- Be careful, it stings!