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Cacti & Succulents

Agave bulbils or plantlets propagation

6 years ago

Hi. I have some agave bulbils or plantlets I was given in San Diego. They are from my sons Mother In Law so I really want to root them. There are a few with just the tiniest root started. Some just have pimples. They were laying on soil, not cut, and are nice and dry. Do I plant, and water once and leave alone, or do I water these more. I have no clue how to root these, so really need direction.

Comments (2)

Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Are you planing to eventually plant them in the ground or keeping in a pot?Most Agave can handle a zone 8. Do you know what species your Agave is:)?

About a month ago I got some Agave americana 'mediopicta alba' pups. Some had baby roots others none. I just planted them in 50% pumice, 30% perlite, and 20% cactus mix. I haven't watered them yet. I probably will give them a drink fairly soon.

So for yours I would wait to water. These guys are tough. In a month you should have more roots. Then you can give a drink. Most if not all my Agaves are planted outside in ground. I am a zone 9b, but lots of Agave are cold hardy. Some are hardy down to zone 5. I'm not saying yours is though.

My established Agaves get winter rain water. If you're keeping inside I wouldn't water more than once a month. Once spring comes around water every other week and if you're able plant in ground next spring.

Is there a way you could post a pic of your little Agaves:)?
Laurie (8A) thanked Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
Laurie (8A)
Original Author
6 years ago
I will gladly post pics tomorrow, when my phone is recharged after work. I believe one is Agave geminiflora. It was a thin leaved smaller agave, that I saw growing in rocks by the front door. The others were from plants I did not get close to growing from some other part of the yard. None were huge plants. All I know is some looked bluer than green, from a distance. They were not striped, or had any strong dark markings. I did not notice large pointed tips. They were maybe 2 to 3 feet.

My zone, 8A; is western Washington, with quite a bit more rainfall than Seattle. So they are intended to be houseplants most of the year. I have artificial lights to boost southern exposure during the winter, and will grow them outside the 2 to 3 months I can get away with putting them out in the summertime. I don't expect growth during winter. Just survival without harm.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
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