Picture via agaveville
Origin and Habitat
Agave Cantala is best known to be a beautiful looking succulent. As the plant matures expect it to reach up to 2 m (6.5ft) tall. The plants main feature are the incredibly long green leaves that give this succulent its unique shape.
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Agave
Watering
There isn’t a reliable watering schedule that suits every home or climate. Check the soil near the roots before watering. Water when it has dried, then let the excess drain from the pot. Reduce watering when the plant is cool or growing slowly.
Avoid leaving the pot in a saucer of water. Cantala is sensitive to waterlogged soil.
General Care for Agave Cantala
This succulent type is a unique one that blooms in the spring. When it blooms, you will enjoy flowers. It is a nice addition to your collection of plants especially if you have it displayed in a beautiful pot.
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Quick Facts:
- Light: A sunny position.
- Soil: Well-draining soil. The plant is sensitive to waterlogged ground.
- Water: Check the soil before watering. Let excess water drain away; don’t leave the plant sitting in water.
- Size: The leaves can reach about 1.5–2 m long. The flowering stalk can reach several metres.
- Propagation: Suckers and, where produced, bulbils.
- Important: The leaf edges and tips are sharp. Wear sturdy gloves when handling the plant.
Where to Plant
Agave Cantala succulents need strong light. When planting this succulent type in a garden, make sure it gets sunlight. Full to partial sun is the best for its growth. It is better to grow outdoor rather than indoor.
This type of succulent prefers a warm climate. It can survive at zone 9a-11b which is around -6.7°C (20°F). If you live in a cold area, it is better to plant in an indoor environment. As long as it gets enough sunlight, the plant will grow happily.
When selecting what pot to use be sure that you understand the difference between the material used (See our guide on how to pick the best plant pot).
How to Propagate Agave Cantala
The plant can be propagated by cuttings, leaves, offsets or seeds. This succulent type does not require repotting often. Of course, the first-time repotting is essential when it is bought from the store. You can learn all about How To Repot Succulents in our guide.
Like all the other succulent types, a well-drained soil mixture is essential. If you want to know about well-drained soil mixtures, check How to Prepare Well-drained Soil for Succulent Plants.
How to propagate Agave cantala
The documented methods for propagating cantala are from suckers and bulbils. Bulbils are small plantlets that may form on the flowering stalk.
- Look for a sucker growing beside the parent plant, or a bulbil on the flowering stalk.
- Wear sturdy gloves and keep your hands away from the leaf tips and edges.
- Separate a sucker carefully, keeping its roots where possible.
- Plant it in free-draining soil and let excess water drain away.
- If you have a bulbil, allow it to grow large enough to handle before planting it.
Common problems
The main growing risk identified for cantala is waterlogged soil. Check that the pot drains freely and that the plant is not left standing in water.
The leaf edges and terminal spine can also injure people handling the plant. Choose a suitable location and wear sturdy gloves when moving or propagating it.
Light and placement
Grow Agave cantala in a sunny position. In a warm climate, it can be grown outdoors where it has room to spread. In a cooler climate, grow it in a container that can be moved to shelter.
The leaves have sharp edges and a pointed tip. Place the plant away from narrow paths, play areas and places where people might brush against it.
Soil and drainage
Use soil that drains freely. Agave cantala can grow in different soil types, but waterlogged soil can damage the plant. For a container, use a pot with drainage holes and a free-draining succulent mix.
Botanical name and sources
Kew lists Agave cantala as a synonym of Agave vivipara. Different horticultural references may still use the name Agave cantala, so readers may encounter both names.
