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Agave Desmettiana(a - GAH - vee de - smet - electrical engineering - AY - na ) , the placid Agave , is a succulent shrub appendage of theAgave plant syndicate .
Agaves were antecedently classified as part of the Agavaceae family . The syndicate has been reclassify as a subfamily under the Asparagaceae family .
Dwarf century plant – Desmettiana – image:Wikimedia Commons
It ’s a plant that has been cultivated for centuries but originally hails from Mexico .
The botanical name is partly derive from the Greek word ‘ agavos ’ which translates to noble or admirable .
The name ‘ desmettiana ’ ( sometimes live as Agave desmetiana ) is a nod to the celebrated Belgian horticulturalist Louis De Smet .
Dwarf century plant – Desmettiana – image:Wikimedia Commons
The common names include :
Desmettianais also known by these synonyms :
Smooth Agave Desmettiana Care
Size and Growth
The dwarf one C plant has a slow to average growth rate and can maturate 3 ’ feet tall with a spread of 3 ’ to 4 ’ when it ’s planted in the land .
Desmettiana grow rapidly when given plenty of pee , and the graceful , arching glaucous leaves make it an attractive ornamental in the landscape painting .
When farm in tummy or container , flora will have a slightly smaller spreading and growth . It is well grown in USDA hardiness zone 8 and 10 .
Several miscellany are available on the market :
Flowering and Fragrance
This beautiful plant has an appearance standardised to theoctopus agaveplant .
The leaves produce in a rose window pattern and a dark shade of green with hotshot - shaped stems .
They ’re generally smoothly textured but are know to have tiny pes or sticker along the edges .
The leave-taking thin out towards the sharpness , curving at the tip of a lighter spectre of red , give the plant a gorgeous tincture .
Smooth one C agaves take a very retentive time to bloom in spring to other summer and only do so once in their lifetime .
But when it does , it will grow 1.5 ” long pallid white-livered flower . These flowers sit on a flowering still hunt accomplish 8 ’ to 10 ’ feet tall .
It can sometimes grow ‘ bulbs ’ which tot up more fibre to the plant ’s appearance .
The blooming process of liquid agave can take a tenacious time , sometimes going up to several calendar month .
The flowers at the basis of the flower stubble will unfold up first , conform to by the single higher up .
Light and Temperature
This is a light - love plant that can brook the full sun but thrives in filtered , more or less shaded light .
It ’s not a very frigid - liberal plant and is sensitive to frost , prefer arid environments instead .
In the winter months , it is best brought indoors if the temperature is expect to drop below 27 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Smooth agave is not a frost - hardy plant and becomes damaged if left out of doors in extremely dusty temperatures .
Watering and Feeding
Agave miradorensis is drought tolerantmaking overwatering your agavea major concern with this low - maintenance plant and should be avoided at all costs .
Smooth agave has low piss needs and is fairly drought immune .
During the hot month , water supply more regularly .
Use affectionate water , and do n’t let the soil dry out whole between tearing .
However , as the temperature drops , cut the watering absolute frequency to avoid root rot .
This plant only need feeding during the leaping and summertime month .
Soil and Transplanting
Smooth Agave desmetiana take well - drained , non - productive soil . flaxen loam , a commercial cactus potting admixture or a succulent potting mix , works well .
bland agave does not need frequent transplanting .
Because of its boring outgrowth rate , it will take quite some clip for it to outgrow its container , make it perfect as a container plant for full Lord’s Day .
However , if you choose to repot make trusted you use a well - run out potting commixture . Do not plant Agave desmetiana too deep , or else the plant put on the line root rotting .
Grooming and Maintenance
This is a no - fuss plant that does not call for a net ton of maintenance .
Trim the spines off the leaves if the plant is pose in a spot with stacks of traffic .
plant can be groom to emphasize the plant ’s shape by removing suckers around the base .
How To Propagate Smooth Agave Desmetiana
Propagate plants by removing showtime from the mother works . plant begin to bemuse off new offsets ahead of time .
transfer the offset but verify not to ignore too near to the radical .
skinny cuts may obstruct its ability to get .
Let the cutting dry out out before planting the offshoot into a prepared rooting mix .
Once it begin produce , feed it with a soluble fertilizer and water it as needed to encourage levelheaded maturation .
Smooth Century Agave Pest or Disease Problems
This plant is broadly pest and disease - free . However , it can be susceptible to root rotting if overwatered and occasionalattacks from the agave nozzle weevil .
verify the potting filth does not bear too much moisture .
Suggested Landscape Uses For Dwarf Agave
politic agave is a great plant to use for xeriscapes and desert gardens due to its low tearing needs .
It can also be used in full sun as an accent spell or focal breaker point in the garden due to its beautiful , unique appearance .
Its moderate size crap it a good alternative for container gardens . Plant as a single specimen or in groups space 5′-6′ apart .
It can also be used as a houseplant if placed in a cheery location .
