Another gardening question ....??

[bright.ton42]

Hope you're reading this kopes and ima ..and anyone else ..

Tomorrow I'm picking up some agave attenuata which I love and have read up on them , but what's bothering me is every indication is that they should be kept pretty  dry a and I'll be transplanting them in wet and cold Melbourne winter soil, or maybe pots. How best to help them survive......   they are small to medium ......should I cover them at night with say plastic?  I know they're supposed to be hardy but have read some horror stories of what wet and cold can do to transplants.

Any advice much appreciated as i just love these plants and hope for a good show in the warmer weather.

[kopenhagen5]

Hi, I am also learning as I go. 

Have you had these before?

They can take over gardens and become a pest. Look great though, before they become too big.

I have found them to be hardy and wouldn't be concerned too much about planting out now. If they are on the small size put them in large pots first and give the roots a chance to develop

However if I was going to have them, I would plant them in large earthenware or large stone planter boxes to restrict their infiltration upon the garden.

[curmu-curmu]

Agaves have no issues with Melbourne's weather - they grow pretty much anywhere, but the main issue is good soil drainage. Wet or moist soils will cause the roots to rot, so if planted in pots, unglazed terracotta is ideal, with a specialized cactii potting mix. Either that, or if they must be planted out in the garden, raise the bed in which they'll be planted, so water will naturallly drain away.

The same cactii mix can be used to raise the height of the bed, and maybe edge the raised section with landscaping rocks to give it a more natural appearance. I'd be inclined to raise the bed by around 20-30cm, and use either rocks, wooden logs, railway sleepers or even pine poles laid horizontally. Eventually, after becoming established, the agaves will also spill over tyhe edges, softening them even further.

If you google them, you'll see countless photos of them in semi-arid environments, or in raised beds. I agree that they are fascinating plants, and despite what some will tell you about our weather being unsuitable, the same is said for bromeliads - which thrive in the sth eastern suburbs at my place!

However, having said all that, the most important thing is...do they already have root systems, or are they divisions? If they have root systems, go ahead and plant them out - but if only cuttings/divisions, leave them in a dry place to 'harden off' for a week before planting - which should be in pots, as you can then better control their moisture.

[chameleon54]

Good advice curma-curma. The unglazed terracotta pots will dry out more than glazed as they are porous and unsealed. The moisture translocates to the outside of the pot through the pores and dries in the open air. A few rocks or broken pots in the base of the planters will help with drainage and assist in keeping soil dry. A potting soil with a strong base of course sand assists in keeping the roots dry. If succulants get too wet the leaves develop patches ( usually at the base ) which turn to dark coloured mush. If you see this starting you know the plants are too wet and maybe too shaded.

The advice about using raised garden beds with the addition of course potting mix will help.   

[imastawka]

Good advice there, bright.

I don't know about planting them out in a garden bed.

They grow very large and have spooky flowers.  Don't know how

long it takes to flower, but they sure are large.

And just to repeat - spooky flowers.  The book Day of the Triffids

comes to mind.  Hahahahaha

                                              

[bright.ton42]

Thanks again everyone.  ....  

is that your garden kopes?  They look beautiful there.

I've only got a smallish courtyard ...   about 7 metres x 3 m and I want them to form a border by the long fence.

Those flowers are amazing, very creepy.  . 

From what you've all said I better be planting them in pots with good drainage as the garden soil doesn't dry at all in

this weather (no sun in the yard).

I'm checking out some today from an online  seller and will make sure I get rooted ones.

Do you think it might be a good idea to keep them indoors overnight?

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

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@bright.ton42 wrote:

Hope you're reading this kopes and ima ..and anyone else ..

Tomorrow I'm picking up some agave attenuata which I love and have read up on them , but what's bothering me is every indication is that they should be kept pretty  dry a and I'll be transplanting them in wet and cold Melbourne winter soil, or maybe pots. How best to help them survive......   they are small to medium ......should I cover them at night with say plastic?  I know they're supposed to be hardy but have read some horror stories of what wet and cold can do to transplants.

Any advice much appreciated as i just love these plants and hope for a good show in the warmer weather.

---

   Pick them up...... but don't transplant until the warmer months have returned.

   I wouldn't even transplant them in Qld in winter. 

  Keep them in their pots ..... as per the instructions......they will thank you for it.

[bright.ton42]

thanks,  I just picked one up,  it's large but in a pot,   so I'll leave them be and just wait  for the warmer weather.  Also hail is forecast for the next couple of days so I'll put them on the porch.      

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

Congrats!......( if you transplant in the warmer weather it will recover within a week or so.)

I love getting new plants...... it's like getting a new pet....lol.

[kopenhagen5]

No, not my garden, would be nice though.

Glad you got what you were looking for.