What's up with my light green agave?

Agave eggersiana growing outside in Missouri, USA. When night time temps are below 60f/15c I take it inside. Last year while outside it turned this light green that I don't think seems very healthy and I was hoping it'd improve this summer but it hasn't. Maybe I need to add nitrogen to the soil? Pot drains well.

39 points · 16 comments · view on lemmy.world

16 Comments

Big_Boss_77@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 34d (3 replies)

It almost looks like light shock, how long has it been outside? How often do you fertilize? When was the last time it was repotted? How often do you water, and does the soil dry out between waterings?

linuxguy@piefed.ca · 5 pts · 34d (2 replies)

Love all the questions!

Outside since April-ish and was light color at the end of the season last year. Went out at the same time then too.

Fertilizer never.

Repotted two years ago when we moved it outside.

Outside, it gets water when it rains or has been dry for an exceptionally long time. I've never seen it look thirsty. Inside, it gets watered when the probe says it is pretty dry 4+ inches deep.

Big_Boss_77@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 34d (1 reply)

I would do a bit of research, figure out a fertilizer regimen for it and see if that doesn't green it up. Increased light with no increase of nutrients will sometimes cause them to yellow like that. You can get soil tests at most hardware/lawn and garden stores. You might grab one to go with the fertilizer so you can keep an eye on it and don't burn it.

linuxguy@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 34d

Kind of what I was thinking but figured I'd poll the peanut gallery first. Who knows, maybe there's an agave expert here.

apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 34d (4 replies)

Nice brasiliopuntia (I think).

linuxguy@piefed.ca · 5 pts · 34d (3 replies)

Thanks, I think! We don't know what it is and it has never bloomed. It doesn't have much in the form of needles 🤷

apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 34d (2 replies)

I'd guess it is B. brasiliensis.

linuxguy@piefed.ca · 4 pts · 34d

I'll research both of them.

linuxguy@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 34d

Edit: removed comment about the wrong species after misreading

Krusty@quokk.au · 3 pts · 34d (6 replies)

Urine has plenty of nitrogen. 1 part pee to ten parts water once or twice a month.

linuxguy@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 34d (5 replies)

Yeah but I have to bring it back inside eventually. Plus I've cats who don't need the temptation

Krusty@quokk.au · 5 pts · 34d (4 replies)

Cats be shittin in house plants....

Urine is actually a decent litmus test. Soil microbiology should neutralize any odor (dilution still matters, 10 parts water to 1 per). While lifeless dirt will just smell like an outhouse.

Cats deliberately go places they can hide the odor...

ryannathans@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 34d (3 replies)

Tell that to one of my cats that pisses in the bath

prettybunnys@piefed.social · 2 pts · 33d (2 replies)

I imagine you then wash it out, thus cleaning the odor for them.

ryannathans@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 33d (1 reply)

Shall we find out what happens if I don't

prettybunnys@piefed.social · 3 pts · 33d

I can see no downside to this experiment