Since most agave species can’t handle a hard freeze, they usually spend their lives as potted houseplants rather than staying in the garden year-round. But here’s the thing: even though they aren’t the fastest growers, they do eventually outgrow their space. When your agave starts looking a bit cramped, it’s time to give it a new home.
Repotting Agave: When is the Best Time?
Agaves are slow and steady growers, but don’t let that fool you—some species can eventually reach up to 6 feet tall! Because they develop deep, sturdy root systems, you’ll want to repot your potted agave every two to three years, depending on the specific variety and how fast it’s moving along.
The absolute best time to repot is right after the winter dormancy period. If you move your plants outdoors for the summer, spring is the perfect “moving day” before they head out to the patio. However, if you’re keeping your agave as a year-round houseplant, you can technically repot it any time. Just a pro-tip: make sure the room stays nice and warm after the move. Agaves need room temperature (or slightly warmer) to help their roots settle into the new soil properly.
How to Repot Your Agave: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Choose a wide pot for your agave’s new home, and make sure it has plenty of drainage holes at the bottom.
- Start with a drainage layer about 1.5 to 2 inches thick using terracotta shards or coarse gravel.
- Fill the pot about halfway with a specialized succulent or cactus mix. If you’re a DIYer, a blend of potting soil and mineral additives like lava rock, pumice, or quartz sand works great.
- Carefully lift the agave and its entire root ball and place it into the new pot.
- Fill in the remaining space with your soil mix and give it a gentle press to secure the plant.
Propagating While You Repot
While you’ve got the plant out of its pot, it’s the perfect time to look for “pups”—those little offshoots growing around the base of the mother plant. You can easily use these pups for propagation. Since both repotting and taking cuttings can be a little stressful for the plant, it’s actually better to do them both at once so the agave only has to recover once. Just remember: hold off on the watering! Give both the mother plant and the new babies about two to three weeks to settle in before giving them their first drink.
