How to replant Foxtail Agaves?

[NamedUser]

I have just transferred 2 Foxtail Agaves into large planters and hoping to get some advice if they're going to be okay.

I bought the agaves off Facebook - the guy chopped them from his garden near the bottom of the trunk and told me to plant the trunk into the soil. When I got home, I cut them again so only the trunk was only 10cm long, and put them in the soil. Pics below.

The planter boxes are filled with 5cm of drainage stone, a layer of geofabric, premium potting mix mixed with catci and succulent premium potting mix and a little bit of pumice.

Are they going to be okay? The guy seemed knowledgeable, I'm just a tad concered there is basically no root to the plant - just the 10cm trunk in the soil?

The spot they are in gets sun basically all day - photos were taken about 5:30pm 

plant 2 plant 2 plant 1 plant 1  

[JacobZ]

Hi @NamedUser,

Thank you for your question about your new foxtail agaves.

The short answer is yes; they should be fine. They store plenty of water and energy in their stems and rosettes, so even without roots, they readily grow new ones from a cut trunk. 

You'll want to keep them dry at first so the cut can seal, then water sparingly. In time, they’ll start rooting and you’ll see firm new leaves in the centre. The only real risk is overwatering in a big pot, so err on the dry side until you are confident, they have rooted.

Check out How To Plant, Grow And Propagate Agave for some further guidance.

Allow me to tag @robchin, @Noelle and @mich1972 to see if they have any advice to offer.

Jacob

[NamedUser]

Thanks @JacobZ 

I re-planted them about 60mins after they were cut - did you mean let them dry first outside of the pot? 

I also gave them good water in after planting - the guy who sold me them told me to do that. Considering the soil is premium potting mix mixed with catci and succulent premium potting mix and a bag of of pumice, is that going to be a cause for concern? There are six ~5cm drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. I've just checked the soil and it's a tiny bit moist ~5cm deep.

[JacobZ]

Hi @NamedUser,

My understanding is that the biggest risk at this point is rot, and that the general advice is that you should let the cut on the trunk callous over before planting it.

I can't say I have experience with transplanting agaves, but the general consensus online seems to be that they are extremely hardy and can survive outside of a pot for upwards of a month without any water. Considering this, it is probably going to be worth lifting the agave from it's pot, allowing it to callous over and then replanting it.

You can then use How To Plant, Grow And Propagate Agave for some further guidance.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[NamedUser]

Thanks again @JacobZ 

Does the below look like a cause of early root rot? Or is that normal or something else / would it even show signs of root rot after one and a half days?

@Noelle 

plant 2plant1plant 1

[JacobZ]

Hi @NamedUser,

It's difficult to say, but I am not immediately concerned looking at it.

I wouldn't be hugely concerned at this point. I would just lift the agave plant out of the soil, allow the cut to callous over and replant in a week or so when you are sure the cut has dried over.

Agaves are resilient; it should be fine, just keep an eye on things and report back if there is anything that concerns you in the near future.

Jacob