Tarev..........................
You are correct in your advice about the pots. Part of the reason why I have so many. They served as my 'zone' tolerance tests and allowed me to move them accordingly.
My mistake was in buying plants that were small and happy in the pots but, as par for the course with me, failing to plan for the future and advanced size and thus removing these agaves and aloes once they outgrew their happy home.
Yet one more reason why I'm playing plant Jenga for the next couple of days and moving little-ish things to make room for the larger plants that I have no intention of ever moving again-----hopefully.
I've decided my pots are going to be limited to aloes/agaves that max out at 3-4 feet tall x 3-4 feet wide. There are also the option of exploring many different Euphorbias, Mammillarias, Trichocereus and such. Your advice reminds me to think smart and buy wise.
Thank you!
Thijs...............................
I agree with your advice and wisdom. Bust out the shade tent no matter how big and sun loving the plant. It is transitioning during this time when our weather is advantageous but summer will be a complete shock to its system.
I'm sure you read my thing above about keeping my smaller plants in their original 'zones' and moving them only a foot or two away from where they were placed when I bought them. Again, thought that was a relatively sane move. Yes? No? As these grow, I have no intention of moving them either unless it is absolutely dire.
Yep.....the A. potatrum does not like anything below 40 degrees and becomes quite pouty. This is one plant I cover fastidiously to keep it comfy. I'm getting the impression as you that in the ground yields better results.
The sandy/clay soil holds moisture far longer so watering more often is not necessary. Also due to the shape of the leaves I've noticed a lot of rain water does not get to the plant when it is in a pot. In the ground this is not an issue.
Any 'agave/aloe' expert that lives outside and resides outside of either your or my area I take with a grain of salt as to their plant selections and care advice. To give an analogy, we live in Hell. They live in Purgatory. Basically clueless as to what we have going on here and addressing our unique climate situation.
I focus only on C.G.'s temps and predicted rainfall and take into fact the soil in my yard. You and I know all about that hot mess. Four different types in one yard all two feet away from each other.
I have been systematically making list of plants fitting for our area that say 'loves full sun' and no shading to very little needed. I've been honing in on lake of fire plants. Just a few:
A. parryi (any variety), A. ovatifolia, A. v. 'Shark skin', A. geminiflora.
My favorite 3 are : A. zebra and A. v. 'Blue Glow'.
None of these plants listed will become 'monster' plants and would be quite happy in large pots.
That also means they are easier to move as Tarev suggested.
My other favorite is the A. vilmoriniana ----------with prior consideration for placement and its size!
Of course I don't take this happy in the sun thing 100% seriously either but I do feel these choices of plants are far more apt to be and well suited once adjusted/transitioned.
AG
