How to Plant an Agave Plant

Overview

There are more than 200 agave plants. Most are monocarpic, which means they flower once, but there are a few varieties that will flower more than once. Agaves tend to be spiky in appearance, with long, sharp stems growing in all directions. They are low-maintenance additions to most landscapes and seem to thrive when they are neglected.

Step 1

Choose a sunny planting location that has well-drained soil. Agaves prefer rocky sites, but will also grow in rich, loamy soil as long as it drains well.

Step 2

Add gravel to the planting site if you have heavy clay soil. The gravel will break up the soil and make it drain better.

Step 3

Dig a hole wider than the root ball of the agave plant. Use your plant as a guide as you dig, as each plant is sized differently.

Step 4

Set the agave plant in the hole. Make sure it sits at the same level as it did in the container. If it's below the surrounding ground, you could experience root rot. Boost it up higher by shoveling a small amount of soil back into the bottom of the hole.

Step 5

Fill in around the roots with the removed soil. Tamp it down as you go to remove air pockets. Fill the hole up completely.

Step 6

Water the agave plant until moist. For the next month, water it every day. Once it is well established, the plant will not need to be watered often. Twice a month is sufficient.