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    Home»Succulents and Cacti»Agave Bracteosa (Squid Agave): Growing and Care Guide

    Agave Bracteosa (Squid Agave): Growing and Care Guide

    By Milo MasonOctober 13, 2022
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    Looking for a new and exciting succulent to brighten up your collection? Agave bracteosa is an excellent choice. Not only does it make a breath-taking addition to any room, but it’s also easy to care for and grow—and once you’ve got one, you’ll want more.

    Agave Bracteosa With Opuntia
    Agave bracteosa with Opuntia (“Agave bracteosa” by laurent7624 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.)

    Here, we’ll guide you towards the right way to care for this lovely plant by teaching you how to choose the best spot for it, what soil mix to use, etcetera, etcetera. We’ll also share tips for repotting and pruning your plant to stay healthy and beautiful!

    in this article:

    • care
    • pruning
    • repotting
    • propagation
    • blooms
    • pests
    • common-problems

    About Agave bracteosa

    Agave bracteosa is a succulent plant native to Mexico. It is commonly known as the ‘Squid Agave’ because of its unusual shape. The succulent leaves are long and thin, with a sharp tip that resembles a squid’s tentacle.

    It is also called the ‘Spider Agave’ because of the spider-like spread of the leaves as they curve backward.

    These gorgeous green leaves form a small solitary rosette that can reach around 1 foot.

    Agave bracteosa is a perfect choice for hanging baskets and containers and is a beautiful potted plant. It’s also highly suited for succulent gardens and desert-style home décor.

    Related Article: Agave types and common varieties

    Botanical NameAgave bracteosa
    Common NameSquid Agave, Spider Agave
    FamilyAsparagaceae
    Plant TypeSucculent
    OriginMexico
    MaintenanceLow
    Height1 foot
    Width1-2 feet
    LightFull sun
    Bloom seasonSummer
    Bloom colorCreamy White
    Water needsLow
    SoilWell-Drained, Loamy, Sandy
    TolerantDeer, Drought, Salt
    Toxicitynon-toxic
    Hardiness (USDA)7-11

    Agave bracteosa Care

    Agave bracteosa is a slow-growing plant requiring little care to thrive. In fact, it is such a low-maintenance plant that many people choose to gift them to beginner gardeners.

    Its relatively small footprint makes it ideal for those who don’t have a lot of space or time to care for plants.

    Light

    Light shade is best for this plant but it can also tolerate full sun. The key is to avoid intense heat and direct sunlight.

    Too much sun might cause yellowing or, in extreme cases, sunburn. A sunny windowsill that gets some shade for parts of the day is ideal.

    Soil

    Agave bracteosa can grow in different soils but prefers rich, well-drained soil. Therefore, it’s best to avoid heavy clay or waterlogged areas because they tend to have poor drainage and cause root rot.

    Water

    Agave bracteosa doesn’t require a lot of water. In fact, overwatering is one of the most common mistakes made by new owners.

    Check your soil before watering to ensure it’s moist but not soggy. If it feels dry, give the plant a thorough watering but make sure the water drains out quickly afterward; the last thing you want is water pooling around the roots.

    Temperature and Humidity

    Agave bracteosa does best in warm temperatures. It will tolerate temperatures as low as 17 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods but prefers temperatures between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

    It’s also highly heat tolerant, making it one of the few succulents that can survive on both extremes of the temperature spectrum.

    The average room humidity is fine. Therefore, you should not need to mist the plant or provide additional moisture.

    Fertilizer

    Agave bracteosa does not require regular fertilization. Overfertilizing is likely to kill the plant because it cannot tolerate excessive nutrient salts in its soil.

    If you want to fertilize, wait until after the first growing season when new growth appears and feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer solution or slow-release granules once per year.

    Avoid fertilizing in the winter when the plant goes dormant.

    Agave Bracteosa (Squid Agave) Cheat Sheet
    Agave bracteosa (Squid Agave) Cheat Sheet (“A135 Agave bracteosa” by Juan Ignacio 1976 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.)

    Pruning

    Agave bracteosa is not a plant that requires pruning.

    Most agaves are best left alone to grow into their natural shape. However, if there is an unsightly or dead section of the plant, you can remove it with a sharp knife as long as the cut does not affect the aesthetics.

    Potting and Repotting Agave bracteosa

    Agave bracteosa is a succulent plant and should be kept in a porous, well-draining potting mix.

    If you want to repot the plant, do so only during the spring when you can give it plenty of water.

    Agave bracteosa is a slow-growing plant and can be left in the same pot for years. Only repot if the plant needs it or has outgrown its pot.

    Prepare

    • Prepare the pot. Choose a large container to accommodate the plant’s root ball and future growth. A container a bit larger than the current pot should do the trick.
    • Prepare the soil. The soil should be similar to what you used for your original potting mix. If not, add 50% perlite or sand and 50% compost, or use a commercial cactus and succulent potting mix.
    • Choose the spot. The plant needs full sun. Place it where it will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
    • Gather the tools. You’ll need a sharp instrument to cut the plant from its pot. A trowel and gloves will help you move the soil around and repot it in your new container.

    How to Repot (Step-by-Step)

    1. Remove the plant from its old pot. Use a sharp tool to cut the plant from its pot, being careful not to damage the roots.
    2. Separate the plant from its old soil. Tease apart the roots from the soil.
    3. Fill up your new container with soil mixture until it reaches about two-thirds full, leaving room for more as needed later.
    4. Place the plant in its new potting mix and thoroughly enough water to settle all the soil around the roots.
    5. Place your Agave in an area that receives plenty of sunlight and water it regularly.

    Propagating Agave bracteosa by Offsets (Step-by-Step)

    The process of propagating Agave bracteosa by offsets is not tricky, but it does require some patience. Once you have found a suitable offset:

    1. Remove it from the mother plant by cutting through the base with sharp pruning shears.
    2. Allow the open wound to callus over for a few days before planting.
    3. Place the offset in a pot with good drainage and a well-draining soil mixture.
    4. Water it thoroughly and place it in a sunny spot that receives at least four to five hours of sunlight daily.
    5. You should see new growth on your Agave within two or three weeks, but this often depends on how warm your environment is.

    Blooms

    Agave bracteosa blooms in the summer after it reaches maturity. However, unlike many other Agave, Agave bracteosa can sometimes survive the blooming process.

    Even if the main rosette doesn’t survive, it regularly suckers, forming clumps that can continue the culture if one rosette perishes due to blooming.

    Creamy yellow flowers are borne on a 4-8 foot tall inflorescence and can be quite showy. The flowers are followed by tiny seeds that can also be used for propagation.

    Related: How to care for Agave Desmettiana ‘Variegata’

    Toxicity

    Agave bracteosa is not considered toxic but contains saponins that can cause skin irritation.

    NOTE: This page is not intended as a substitute for veterinary advice. The toxicity of an ingested substance varies depending on the amount ingested, the animal’s weight, and its sensitivity to specific allergens. Contact your veterinarian or local animal poison control center immediately if you think your pet may have ingested a toxic substance.

    Variegated Squid Agave
    Variegated Squid Agave (“New World Desert Garden, Agave bracteosa ‘Variegata’ aka ‘Monterrey Frost’ Variegated Squid Agave” by cultivar413 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.)

    Common Pests

    Agave snout weevil

    Agate snout weevil is one of the most common pests found on Agave bracteosa. This is a small beetle with a snout-like projection on its head that it uses to drill into the plant for laying eggs. Unfortunately, it also chews holes in leaves, which causes them to die back prematurely.

    Scale Insects

    Scale insects are small, hard-shelled insects found on the leaves of many Agave. They feed on sap from within the plant and secrete honeydew as a byproduct. This attracts ants, which protect the scale insect from predators in exchange for feeding on the honeydew.

    Slugs and Snails

    These mollusks can be found feeding on the leaves as well. This can cause damage to the plant and make it more susceptible to disease, not to mention the disfigurement of the leaves themselves is unsightly.

    AVOID

    • Overwatering
    • Placing under harsh sunlight
    • Using poorly drained potting mediums
    • Fertilizing during dormancy

    Common Problems

    • Overwatering: Overwatering is the most common problem that leads to plant death. It’s easy to see why: Agave bracteosa requires little water, so you can easily overwater it by accident. You should only water your plant when the soil has dried out completely.
    • Frost burn: Frost burn is a common problem for many Agave. It’s caused by extremely cold temperatures, which can damage the plant’s leaves and cause them to turn white and die back. In harsh winters, you may want to consider bringing your plant indoors during this time of year. Agave bracteosa is extremely frost hardy and can survive below-freezing temperatures if kept dry. But if the plant is wet, it risks frost burn.
    • Sunburn: Sunburn is another problem that can afflict Agave. It’s caused when the plant is exposed to too much sun, which can cause leaves to turn brown and die back. This can happen if you place your plant in direct sunlight without shade or move it outside during summer.

    Agave bracteosa (Spider Agave)-Care Tips (Video)

    FAQ

    Like most succulents, Agave bracteosa requires very little care. It thrives in dry conditions and can even be grown indoors as a houseplant, although it will need more water than other succulent plants because of its shallow roots.

    Agave bracteosa grows slowly. It can take several years for this Agave to reach full size, although you may notice slight changes in the plant’s appearance as it matures.

    Agave bracteosa can grow up to 1 foot tall. The leaves are arranged in rosettes that form clusters along the stem, increasing the spread to about 2 feet wide.

    1. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants. ASPCA
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    Milo Mason

    Milo Mason is a self-proclaimed plant whisperer. With a passion for gardening, houseplants, and all things outdoors, Milo has been cultivating indoor plants for the past five years with an interest in perennials and succulents. He enjoys sharing his insights and research on plant species when it comes to care tips.

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