Although they don't appeal to everyone, Agaves are an essential plant if you want to give your garden the Mediterranean look.
Large potted specimens can be used as focal point or feature plants, while smaller ones can be used to decorate a sunny area or patio.
If you've got enough space, you can create a "desert look" by pot planting them and covering the ground with a decorative mulch. (See photo right taken at Birmingham Botanical Gardens)
At the end of the season and before the first frosts, the pots are lifted and the plants are stored away for the winter.
Of the two hundred or so recognized species, most of those of interest to us here in the U.K. come from the southern States of the U.S.A. and northern Mexico.
By a stroke of good fortune, many of these species are frost hardy and this opens up the possibility of growing them all year round in the open garden.
Unfortunately, this hardiness comes at a price and in order for it to be of any benefit, plants must be kept as dry as possible over the winter months.
Pots & Compost: Repotting is best done in the spring and you don't need to repot annually, every two or three years is fine.
Avoid overpotting as this can lead to unused soil going "sour".
Moving up one pot size is o.k; two is passable but don't go any further than that.
Don't fill the pot right to the top, leave a space between the bottom of the lower leaves and the top of the compost.
This space can be between half and one inch deep for small pots and two inches plus for the larger sizes.
Fill the gap with pea gravel or small pebbles.
This "collar" allows surface water to drain away quickly from around the neck of the plant and also allows air to circulate keeping the neck area dry.
Water trapped in this area can cause problems especially in winter.
When it comes to actually repotting the plants, Agaves with upright growing leaves or those which grow as flattish rosettes are the easiest to repot.
A.Americana with its contorted leaves, is unfortunately a law unto itself and I've collected a few battle scars tangling with this particular beast.
Two things I would like to point out.
You can cut the terminal leaf spine off with a sharp pair of secateurs.
As long as you don't cut into the flesh of the leaf tip itself you'll do no harm.
Not all Agaves have spines along the leaf margins, some have sharp edges for a bit of a change.
Take my word for it these edges are as sharp as razors and will easily cut into your fingers, you have been warned!
The best advice that I can offer, is to wear thick gloves and take care.
Overwintering: How you overwinter your plants depends on which varieties you grow.
The hardier types such as A.Desertii, A.Utahensis, A.Palmeri and A.Parryi (and the plain leaf A.Americana) can all be overwintered outdoors provided you can keep them DRY this is critical. (Somewhere like a covered patio is fine.)
Variagated types like A.a.variegata or A.a. medio-picta alba are some of the less hardy Agaves and are best brought indoors to a frost free area.
If you notice the leaves taking on a slightly wrinkled and soft appearance, this usually means they need a drop of water.
This is easily done by putting the pot into a pot saucer which has a diameter half to one inch larger than the base of the pot.
Fill the saucer with water and allow the plant to soak it up and that's it.
If your plants are kept in a warm sunny area such as a conservatory, you might need to water them a couple of times over the winter but don't overdo it.
Note: If anyone has any questions about growing Agaves in pots, then send me an e.mail and I'll see if I can help.
Cultivation Part 2 to follow.