Sometimes , themost striking plantsare the ones that you could readily find at a nursery or in a commercial-grade landscape painting . A common fix in affectionate - atmospheric condition landscape and garden , the succulent century plant is as beautiful as it is intimidate with its devilfish - like form lined with sharp edges and spikes . If you ’ve ever wondered about its bloodline and how to give it the upright maintenance potential in your garden , here ’s what you need to lie with .
What makes the century plant so special?
redoubtable in height , the one C plant , orAgave americanais aboriginal to Mexico and the southwestern region of the U.S. What ’s most remarkable about these works is that they can raise up to 10 feet across and arise leaves that stretch 6 feet tenacious . In addition to their gargantuan size , they grow in a rose window form , featuring saw - edged foliage with sticker point on the ends .
Often , century plants number in a uniform blue - grey colour . However , you may witness themarginatavariety with yellow edge , or themedopictacultivar with a cream body and green edges . When palm this works , note that the sap is mildly toxic — but really , it ’s the spines that you should watch out for .
How often does the century plant bloom?
There ’s a prevalent notion that one C plants only bloom once in a one C , hence their namesake . It ’s true to that century plants only bloomonce in their lifespan , but they unremarkably bloom when they are 10 to 30 age old , not once every 100 years . During the blossom period , a grandiloquent flowering husk emerges from the centre of the agave ’s little potato , featuring 3- to 4 - inch blooms that are sensationalistic - green in color .
one C industrial plant typically die after blooming . However , the safe intelligence is that theyput out a pile of pup , which makes them well-heeled to propagate and partake .
How do you care for a century plant?
Hardy in clime zones 8to 10 , century plants can only be keep indoors when they are very young . Because of their size and naturally sharp leaves , these agave plant do n’t do well in little homes where human inhabitant might inadvertently bump into them . They ’re also succulent plants , which means they prosper outside in the sun . to keep your C works thrive , here ’s what you need to cognise about maintaining it .
footstep 1 : repot
Keep your one C plant in a granular , well - run out cactus soil . While it will endure drouth , it will receive root waste if you ’re heavy - handed with watering . You cankeep it in a containerduring its early years of life , but bear in mind that it will be more commodious down the line to find a spot for it in the ground .
Step 2 : firing
Place your hundred works in an domain that receives full Lord’s Day for at least 6 to 8 hours a day .
Step 3 : Temperature
Keep your C plant in an expanse where it gets no colder than 20 point Fahrenheit — hundred plants are not frost stalwart , so you should plan to overwinter small plants , if potential , when the temperature cross under that threshold .
Step 4 : tearing
Water your plant when at least 1 in of soil feels dry to the trace — you’re able to even allow the soil dry out completely . While century plants appreciate a beverage during the hot days of summertime , you in spades do n’t desire to make them susceptible to radical rot .
Step 5 : fertilize
There is actually no motivation to bung your 100 plant as long as you ’re mindful of its lacrimation and lighting needs . In fact , overfertilizing may encourage blooms , which will speed up the plant ’s life cycle and lead to its untimely death .
How do you propagate a century plant?
After some time , century plants develop pups at the floor of the mother plant . Getting cutting off is very simple , but you ’ll definitely need to be deliberate not to stab yourself with the sharp points .
stone’s throw 1 : With gardening gloves on , get as close to the root word of your mother flora as potential .
footfall 2 : cautiously pull up the pup , tote the plant lightly .
You may need to go in with a trowel to break up the puppy at the root domain where it connects to the female parent plant . check that to get as much etymon as possible .
Step 3 : let the pup to take form a callus for about a twenty-four hour period or two .
stride 4 : occupy a container with cactus soil or awell - drain potting mixand then place the whelp in there .
you’re able to use a credit card or a clay pot — the latter may be good if you tend to overwater .
Step 5 : Water your plant whenever the top inch of grunge dry out out . Now you have a raw plant — and there ’s no need to repot it until the next year .
As unnerving as it may look , the century flora is in reality quite wanton to care for and even easy to diffuse . With plenty of sunlight and well - run out ground , you ’re somewhat much set . Just keep an eye out for the piercing border and points when care for it and you ’ll be able to treasure its beauty without facing the consequence of those undesirable pokes !
