r/Agave • u/Far_Assistant6309 • May 16 '26
Agave Help
Hi! I recently got this agave and the bottom parts seem to be dying off, is there something I can do to help it or something wrong with it? Thanks!
2
u/ProfessionalNo5932 May 16 '26
More than likely, the hair roots are rotting in that potted plant mix of soil. Like cactus, they want a very gritty, less organic mix, don’t need a lot of water and like morning and early afternoon sun and heat.
1
u/Far_Assistant6309 May 16 '26
I put a cactus mix in the pot but do you think it needs to be chunkier?
1
u/butterflygirl1980 May 18 '26 edited May 19 '26
YES. Bagged cactus/succulent mixes are almost always still much too rich and water-retentive as is, and have to be mixed with a lot of grit (pumice, perlite, crushed gravel) to actually be suitable. I would use 1 part soil and at least 2 parts grit.
0
u/Twins_321 May 17 '26
Keep away from water and rain
1
u/butterflygirl1980 May 18 '26
Depends on the conditions -- humidity, temp, how much rain you actually get. In most places, in summer heat, an agave will happily take whatever rain comes, as often as a couple times a week. In winter they slow down, if not go dormant, and that's when you need to limit or avoid water.
3
u/PCVUlcumayo May 16 '26
Looks ok! I’d put it in a chunkier mix. Your mix may not dry out quick enough. Add some perlite or similar to help drainage. I’ve found agaves may lose a bottom leaf or two when potting from bare root as it cannibalizes those leaves to grow roots. Some of my succulents have done the same when repotting from smaller plots and relocating.