Against my better judgement I acquired an Agave Americana 'Marginata'. It is doing well but is not cold hardy for our winters, even if kept dry. The vendor said to get it into my garage when temps approach 20F. I'm thinking more like 25F would be a bit safer. I've heard about people putting this type of Agave in their garages for the winter. I have an unheated, attached garage that is cold but remains above 30F even thru a cold spell. But it's pretty dark in there.



Questions:
1) Can this Agave take all that darkness for Dec, Jan and Feb?
2) I guess it won't be growing but it won't exactly be dormant... will it?
3) If it lives thru the winter in my garage can I expect it to be in compromised health?
4) Would it help to move it in and out of the garage as temperatures permit? (keeping it dry of course)

I found this link: http://www.desertplantsofavalo... . Although I firmly believe your question regarding light is going to require yet another experiment for you, it surely won't be as dramatic or lethal as the first one was. No one can give a prediction for you. There are just too many variables, from home to home, street to street and state to state, and the level of commitment from individual to individual.

I am north of you in Washington state. I sent you the article last year on Agave growing in Freemont, Seattle. So, I too have an urge to try to grow some of these desert plants. Reading through each month of your experiment was such a great tutorial. Thanks for the commitment in sharing your labor of love and loss for a year. I am in a climate so much wetter than Seattle, I won't be growing them outdoors. Your months of snow are safer than my waterlogged winters. I will be so curious to see if you experiment with different light during overwintering indoors and what results.

Fun read.

Thanks for that link, Laurie. I had not seen it before.
I think you're right... I'll have to find whatever works for me.

My Agave Montana will be lifted, pot and all, and kept in my cold frame. It came thru last winter without the slightest blemish and that was a very nasty winter. It's looking pretty good as far as I can tell.

It is looking awesome Tim.

Tim, that Agave looks monstrously interesting...
All pots in the background are going into cold frame too?

Bev, all potted Agaves stay outside all year but get rain/snow/ice protection along the southern side of my house under the eve. Except the Americana which I believe will have to come into the garage when temperatures get below 25.

Here we have:
A. Americana Marginata (in a gift pot from Bev)
Agave Parasana 'Globe'
Agave Parryi Neomixcana x Utahensis


Here is:
Agave Parryi Estrella
Agave Parryi 'JC Raulston' (a sport that may turn out interesting, note its different color and form)
Opuntia Polycantha 'Peter Pan'


And the mighty winter-hardy Agave Parryi 'JC Raulston' in its permanent garden location where it laughs at cold rain and snow. Also there's Agave Parryi Truncata which is not so hardy and will be moved under rain protection.


And just for fun an Echinopsis (easter lily cactus) and a very cold-hardy and spineless Echinocereus.

Another Wow: Rollers, Semps, Sedum, Agave and Opuntia all in one bed!...Now that's Diversity. Only thing missing is Bob planted in there
Nice Big Collection of Agaves and glad that old heavy pot is serving some function over at your house, Tim. I figured given time, it would have been eventual cause of back spasms for me.

Wow, Tim you have quite a collection of agave now. They really are lovely plants. I love seeing your photos and the way you grow them in among your semps and sedum.

valleylynn said:Wow, Tim you have quite a collection of agave now. They really are lovely plants. I love seeing your photos and the way you grow them in among your semps and sedum.

Agaves and Sedums together, Lynn? Surely you jest. Not in my garden.

You can't fool me Tim, at least not all of the time.

With some heavy rains a few days ago, the potted Agaves have gone into rain protection.
There's also an Echinopsis Oxygona in there (Easter Lily Cactus). I don't know how to overwinter this guy. How cold can it get? Maybe I'll keep it together with the Agave Americana.

They are looking pretty snug and happy Tim.

Time to start thinking about Agave survival again. 'JC Raulston' is doing fine with the cold rain, but Winter hasn't even started yet. It has sprouted three pups, two of which I dug out cuz they were too close. One was suitably far away to make a nice companion. This plant has been so successful unprotected that I have installed two of its original pups into other parts of my rock garden.



This Agave Americana Marginata is doing quite well so far. I was told 20F degrees was its minimum. I had decided I would bring it inside at 25F to be safe. Well... we've had like 5 nights in a row in the low 20's and all I did was drape that old bedsheet over it. On FaceBook I see people growing these in Sweden, Norway and Belgium. One guy said that his made it through a 3F degree morning. I find that hard to believe.
Anyway, this guy is remaining high and dry, dry, dry. I don't foresee bringing him in unless we start looking at temps in the teens. Although a better cover might be in order.

It's great that those Agaves are holding up to your high standards, Tim and the Amer. Marginata looks happy in that great looking pot

Hi Tim:

So glad your still committed to share your awesome determination to grow these in your zone.outside. I will be walking the yard tomorrow to pick a spot to experiment. Thank you for the post and the agave is just perfection. Congrats.

Hmm, I think I have just the place for a JC Raulston.
Thanks Tim, for a fascinating thread!

Here's a 'JC Raulston' pup taken from the main plant. It is growing at the regular ground level, not raised up. This could add some moisture to the situation. This one was transplanted in June and now has a pup of its own, in the yellow circle. My first grand-pup. I hope they both make it.

Are you tempted to raise the pup up somehow?

Oh my heavens. It is just beautifully healthy. Amazing Tim. Keep the pics and updates coming. I absolutely have enjoyed this thread so much.

webesemps said:Are you tempted to raise the pup up somehow?

I thought I'd leave that pup there and while it is small for a few years at least. It's growing in a freshly divided patch of Sedum 'Fools Gold'. When they both establish it should make a nice display. Assuming of course that it survives.
That pup is surprisingly far away from the parent plant. Maybe it's trying to find a better place.
Laurie, I'll keep the updates coming. I just hope it's all good news.