How to Grow an Agave Cactus

If you think of an agave as a cactus, you aren't alone. Many people make this incorrect assumption. The agave is a succulent, not a cactus, yet like the desert cactus requires minimal irrigation or care. The agave's nectar is a sweet alternative to traditional sugar and the blue agave is an ingredient in tequila. As a desert landscaping plant, the agave holds its own with neighboring cactuses, able to withstand long periods of drought while attracting birds and wildlife to its seasonal blossoms. Depending on the agave variety, it might bloom during the winter, spring or summer.

6-inch pot with drainage hole
Perlite
Sphagnum peat
Plastic tub (large enough to hold the pot)
Clear plastic wrap

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a 6-inch pot with equal amounts of perlite and sphagnum peat.
- 2
  Spread an even layer of agave seeds over the soil mixture.
- 3
  Sprinkle perlite over the seeds and lightly cover, without burying the seeds too deeply.
- 4
  Fill a plastic tub with water. Add enough water so that when you set the pot in the tub, the bottom half of the pot is submerged.
- 5
  Leave the pot in the tub of water until the soil is moist.
- 6
  Cover the pot with plastic wrap to retain moisture during the germination period. Remove the pot from the tub and place the pot outdoors in a bright warm location. Do not place the container in direct sunlight. It takes about two weeks for the seeds to germinate.
- 7
  Lift the edges of the plastic wrap after the seeds begin to germinate to allow air into the pot. Remove and discard the wrap about four days later.
- 8
  Maintain light moisture in the soil; do not let the soil dry out completely, yet do not soak.
- 9
  Transplant each agave seedling into its own 2 1/4-inch pots after the plants have two or three leaves.

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