Should I repot my Agave outside of growing season to avoi...
Xavier, my #agave Blue Glow still has wet soil (under the top dressing) although it's been 2 weeks since I watered him! 😓 (Due to too much heavy rainfall recently).
I also noticed something that looked a bit like a fungus or mold in his pot which I would treat with a hydrogen peroxide solution soil drench but he's FAR from being ready to be watered again.
I'm considering repotting him, treating the roots with hydrogen peroxide and giving him new gritty soil and a terracotta pot but...
I know it's not 'technically' his growing season until spring. 😓 Although, in my experience many of my succulents grow all year! 🤷🏽♀️
I do live in California and grow outside, so I'm able to provide 4-5 hours of direct sunlight for him in my deck.
He is otherwise healthy... I adopted him about a year ago and he's grown a bunch since then! 😀
Thanks #greggang 👍🏽❤️🤗
#succulentsquad #socalgreg #cactusclique #succulentlove #greggers #repotseason #help #growingsuccs
I also noticed something that looked a bit like a fungus or mold in his pot which I would treat with a hydrogen peroxide solution soil drench but he's FAR from being ready to be watered again.
I'm considering repotting him, treating the roots with hydrogen peroxide and giving him new gritty soil and a terracotta pot but...
I know it's not 'technically' his growing season until spring. 😓 Although, in my experience many of my succulents grow all year! 🤷🏽♀️
I do live in California and grow outside, so I'm able to provide 4-5 hours of direct sunlight for him in my deck.
He is otherwise healthy... I adopted him about a year ago and he's grown a bunch since then! 😀
Thanks #greggang 👍🏽❤️🤗
#succulentsquad #socalgreg #cactusclique #succulentlove #greggers #repotseason #help #growingsuccs
6” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 year ago
27
@SirLiquorice @fitsedum @sarahsalith @KrunchyWrap
Any of you warmer climate Growers have thoughts on this outdoor agave repot decision? 🙏🏽 💚
Any of you warmer climate Growers have thoughts on this outdoor agave repot decision? 🙏🏽 💚
I have a couple thoughts. One was to use HP without repotting. Since it turns to O2 it may be ok despite the damp soil.
Despite it being out of growing season, if your weather looks great or you have a grow light it should be fine. It's about ensuring the plant gets the light it needs to make energy to bounce back, so it's doable out of growing season.
My last thought is that you are attentive enough to your plants I say go with your gut. Personally, I don't get to check my plants daily so I shouldn't be doing "risky" things, but you are so diligent I'm sure it'll be fine!
Despite it being out of growing season, if your weather looks great or you have a grow light it should be fine. It's about ensuring the plant gets the light it needs to make energy to bounce back, so it's doable out of growing season.
My last thought is that you are attentive enough to your plants I say go with your gut. Personally, I don't get to check my plants daily so I shouldn't be doing "risky" things, but you are so diligent I'm sure it'll be fine!
Also, @SirLiquorice I'm wondering about my Oputina cactus too... Same issues - damp suspicious looking soil like the agave, but not quite as bad, this pot will probably be dry in 2-3 more days or so.
@roxyvivien opuntia seem to be kinda difficult to overwater. They grow fast enough they’ll usually use the water. Just watch it close and check the soil with a moisture meter.
@SirLiquorice Thank you! I'm gonna take your advice & repot the Agave but just wait to water the Oputina.
I make my own soil now using various rocks (soil ammendments) and a touch of Coco Coir and Worm Castings - I vary the amount of organic mater depending on the species and pot type. Currently On hand I have, pumice, lava rock, zeolite, vermiculite, course sand, calcined clay, & various pebbles. Any specific blend you'd recommend for Agave?
I make my own soil now using various rocks (soil ammendments) and a touch of Coco Coir and Worm Castings - I vary the amount of organic mater depending on the species and pot type. Currently On hand I have, pumice, lava rock, zeolite, vermiculite, course sand, calcined clay, & various pebbles. Any specific blend you'd recommend for Agave?
@SirLiquorice oh, and I do move plants under an awning for rain ... But unfortunately the weather report was wrong one one day so some plants got a major drenching overnight after being recently watered. 😬🙄😓
@roxyvivien I know agave seem to like sandy soil that’s at least about half grit. So pumice sand and gravel all should be good options to add.
@PlantMompy Thank you for your detailed thoughts on this! 🙏🏽 💖 🌱
I am lucky that I work from home and have plenty of time for gardening breaks 🙂 💚...
I think I'm gonna go with my gut & repot it, as I know the soil quality isn't optimal & it will prolly get worse with another rainy week this winter.
That's interesting about the hydrogen peroxide.. I have. only heard that you have to dilute the 3 or 9 % with water. I've never tried putting it directly on the soil... wouldn't it harm delicate roots without dillution? I'm assuming that I'd have to put enough solution in get all the way to the bottom roots... Or is there another way to treat for fungal soil infections?
I am lucky that I work from home and have plenty of time for gardening breaks 🙂 💚...
I think I'm gonna go with my gut & repot it, as I know the soil quality isn't optimal & it will prolly get worse with another rainy week this winter.
That's interesting about the hydrogen peroxide.. I have. only heard that you have to dilute the 3 or 9 % with water. I've never tried putting it directly on the soil... wouldn't it harm delicate roots without dillution? I'm assuming that I'd have to put enough solution in get all the way to the bottom roots... Or is there another way to treat for fungal soil infections?
@roxyvivien I agree with @SirLiquorice . I myself don’t go with a soil-less medium because of my elevation and that’s worked really well however my BG Agave do not get rained on. If they did, I would go with soil-less. Especially if you see the soil is retaining moisture. Get it out of that water asap or you’ll lose it.
Most places say to dilute it 4:1, and I used to. Now I put it on straight since it's also a great boost and I used to be notorious for packing soil into pots so the roots didn't get O2. 😬
However I honestly can't remember if I have tried it with plants that have delicate roots or not. My collection grew really fast this summer so I had some gnats and would just take the HP with me when I watered and squirt plants that needed it, regardless of if I watered them that day.
However I honestly can't remember if I have tried it with plants that have delicate roots or not. My collection grew really fast this summer so I had some gnats and would just take the HP with me when I watered and squirt plants that needed it, regardless of if I watered them that day.
Girls it's cold as heck here but honestly I would go ahead and do it. Get him cleaned and treated and in a nice fresh medium/pot so even or keeping him from growing the way he should. Go ahead and just be super gentle and I think you'll be fine and maybe bring him in or put him somewhere where he'll be covered from the rainfall until it can chill a bit.
@KrunchyWrap @fitsedum I was definitely leaning towards repotting and now I'm 💯 getting him outta that wet soil! Thanks for the verification, girls 👍🏽
I do have the option of moving the agave under my awning to avoid the rare rain fall in LA but sometimes the weather report is wrong like it was recently... 🙄😬 😖
I do have the option of moving the agave under my awning to avoid the rare rain fall in LA but sometimes the weather report is wrong like it was recently... 🙄😬 😖
@PlantMompy that's good to know it does not harm succulents undiluted in small amounts! I'll test out spraying it on the soil if I see something suspect. Thanks! 👍🏽 🙂
@SirLiquorice good to know, thanks! In your experience if I do mix in a li'l touch of soil would you think a bagged cactus mix (pete moss based) or Coco Coir is best? I have both on hand. 🙂
@SirLiquorice @KrunchyWrap @fitsedum @PlantMompy
Omg look at those roots! 😲 This guy was very busy growing in 2022! Is this normal in just 6 months? (that's the last time I repotted him)
Omg look at those roots! 😲 This guy was very busy growing in 2022! Is this normal in just 6 months? (that's the last time I repotted him)
@roxyvivien yeah that’s pretty normal. It looks pretty crazy when they grow pups also. The roots of the pup start growing wrapped around the roots of the mother plant. Pretty cool way to multiply. At least some of them grow pups that way. Some grow them on a stem.
@SirLiquorice Ha! I didn't even realize that my crazy Calico kitty made it into the photo 😂 - she's 1of the 4 furry rascals in my house!
So, unfortunately w/the soil wet & the roots tangled I lost a bunch of the roots trying to get them free from the soil 😳...
In hindsight I should have rinsed the roots off but that didn't occur to me at the time, duh. 🤦🏽♀️
However I've personally had more success repotting to a drastically diff soil medium by starting with less roots (or from a stem cutting) because the new growth will grow to adopt better in their new environment.
Have you heard of this concept? I learned it from a Korean succulent grower talking about it in a video about [soiless] growing.
So, unfortunately w/the soil wet & the roots tangled I lost a bunch of the roots trying to get them free from the soil 😳...
In hindsight I should have rinsed the roots off but that didn't occur to me at the time, duh. 🤦🏽♀️
However I've personally had more success repotting to a drastically diff soil medium by starting with less roots (or from a stem cutting) because the new growth will grow to adopt better in their new environment.
Have you heard of this concept? I learned it from a Korean succulent grower talking about it in a video about [soiless] growing.
I have seen growers purposely trim roots to keep them from growing as large and to keep them in a smaller container. Usually with certain cacti and succulents. It makes sense that they can grow and get used to a different medium with new roots growing. But haven’t seen anyone mention that. It should be fine most likely but the roots probably need to heal a little now.
@SirLiquorice 💯 I dusted the roots w/ cinnamon and will wait about 5 days to water...weirdly enough the top roots by the base were a tad moist but the bottom roots were pretty thin & dry. This is why I don't grow with peat moss based soils anymore. 😑 The water repelling properties do weird stuff to the roots after a while ! 😖