What The Old Farmer's Almanac Suggests To Keep A Potted Agave Thriving

Who doesn't love a good indoor succulent? You might love it even more if it's a versatile plant like agave, which can be made into homemade syrup or even used to help moisturize your hair. If you want this plant to thrive, follow the advice of the Old Farmer's Almanac and repot it every year.

Agave, a relative of asparagus, is native to Mexico and the American Southwest, probably best known for its most famous by-product: Tequila. Among the interesting and lesser-known facts about agave is that while your indoor versions might be able to fit on a shelf, you'll find some varieties in the wild can grow as much as 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Normally best suited for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 through 11, this succulent likes its soil dry and its sun plentiful.

While it can thrive in containers, repotting it annually is important to keep it healthy. According to the Almanac, this plant needs extra space to grow. It naturally has shallow roots, but even these get cramped in limited spaces. The most important thing to do is pick a container slightly larger than your plant's current one, so that you can give its roots the space needed to stretch. Repotting also allows you to add new soil, replenishing nutrients that can help your succulent grow even stronger than before. Also, make sure there are lots of good drainage holes in its new home since this drought-resistant plant hates wet feet.

To transplant agave into a new pot, start by grabbing your garden gloves. This plant contains stiff, pointy, and spiky leaves that can scratch you, so protect your hands. Then, grab hold of the plant, turning it upside down and gently removing it from its old confines.

The Almanac suggests knocking off any dirt from the roots and then carefully inspecting them for damage or withered bits. You'll want to cut these away. Pay special attention to any roots that might be black or mushy and pinch these off. This can be a sign of root rot, or the fungal infection caused by a combination of spores and overwatering. You can work on preventing this in the new pot with better drainage and maybe the occasional use of hydrogen peroxide, the medicine cabinet staple that can help keep houseplants thriving. While you're at it, trim older roots that are sticking out of the root ball, as this will stimulate new root growth. 

Once you've gotten the root ball nice and trimmed, then it's time to put the agave plant into its new container. Pick a potting soil designed for cactus, or you can make your own with potting soil, compost, and sand. Afterward, the Almanac suggests putting the plant in bright but indirect light. Be careful not to overwater this succulent after repotting.