Blue Agave Plants

Botanical Name: Agave parryi

Blue agave plants make good house plants as long as you can provide the sunlight they need.

These round succulent plants grow in a rosette of thick, spined leaves. Take care when handling them -- those spines are sharp! It's a good idea to display it where it won't get touched or accidentally bumped.

Give these succulents as much light throughout the year as possible. Moving your agave plant outdoors for the summer may be ideal, if it's sheltered from rain. It can withstand high temperatures and around 5 hours of direct sunlight each day. It loves bright light in the winter months, too. However, it won't tolerate cold temperatures, so bring it back in before the nighttime temperatures drop to 50°F/10°C.

Keeping agaves indoors year-round is fine. Just put your plant in front of a sunny window.

Blue agave plants are slow-growing, so they rarely need repotted. Repot only every 5 years or so -- just to freshen the soil. Use a wide, heavy pot to prevent toppling.

Origin: Southwestern U.S. and Mexico

Height: 1 ft (30 cm)

Light: Bright light to full sun

Water: Water thoroughly in spring and summer, allowing the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings. Water sparingly in fall and winter.

Humidity: Average room humidity

Temperature: Spring to fall, keep warm (70-90°F, 21-32°C). In winter, cool (50-60°F, 10-16°C).

Soil: Well-drained potting mix, such as cactus mix. Or, mix 2 parts all-purpose potting mix with 1 part sand.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation: Remove offsets that grow at the base of the plant. Cut them off when they are 2-4 in (5-10 cm) high and pot them separately.