After-Frost Care for Agaves

Frost Damage Symptoms

• Frost damage on agave plants manifests as black patches of dead tissue on the leaves. Over several weeks these patches dry out, leaving a hole or depression. Severe frost damage can kill whole leaves or even the entire plant.

Damage Treatment

• Once an agave is damaged by frost, the damage cannot be reversed. Monitor your plant for any sign that damaged areas are starting to rot. Remove any leaves that become soft or foul smelling.

Aftercare

• If whole leaves turn black, they can be removed once any danger of frost has passed. Even damaged or dead outer leaves act as a buffer between the growing bud and further frosts so leave them on the plant until after the winter. Cut away any unsightly patches from damaged leaves using a sharp, sterile knife.

Preventing Further Damage

• Move potted agaves indoors during cold nights and choose the warmest spot in the garden to plant agaves in the ground. Cover them with fleecing if frost is forecast or use a cotton, rather than a plastic, sheet. Jack Kelly from the University of Arizona recommends placing a 60-watt light bulb under the sheet. Make sure it does not touch the plant or the sheet. Some agave species, such as A. germiniflora, survive frosts down to temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit without damage.