Go, Spot, Go!
01/23/2012
Last summer, in one of my succulent frenzies, I sort of fell in love with this guy. . .
He is an agave -- Agave 'spot' -- to be precise. (Tequila comes from the agave plant . . . although not this particular agave.) I like the texture of this plant . . . and I'm pretty much a sucker for spotted leaves.
This agave was quite happy in a pot out on my patio all summer long.
Then, I brought him inside for the winter -- expecting him to go into a dormant stage.
But something odd started happening.
First, his leaves started to yellow, beginning from the tips and moving up. I was disappointed, but I thought maybe it was part of the dormancy stage. I cut off the offending leaves and kept him in a sunny spot and gave him some water whenever he was really, really, really dried out.
His leaves kept dying. And the ones that remained (and a couple of new ones) were lighted in color -- and didn't have spots.
And then. . . something amazing started to happen!
This. . .
grew up out of the middle of the plant! He's going to flower! That stalk-thing is over 5 feet tall! And there is a bloom on the tip.
All of the information I can find on agaves (and the Spot, in particular) mention that they sometimes bloom in the summer. And rarely indoors. And here is my guy. . . ready to bloom. Indoors. In January.
I'm not sure if these plants normally lose their leaves and begin to die when they're going to bloom or not. . . but that's what mine seems to be doing. My only hope for longer-term survival is this. . .
These two little "shoots" are popping up in the pot. New little agaves? Perhaps!
I'll keep you posted on the bloom . . . and the "shoots." In the meantime, Spot is giving this gardener something to futz over in the dormant season. Go, Spot, Go!
It's always an adventure, being a gardener! You take good care of your plants and Spot is rewarding you now. Yay!
Posted by: Carole | 01/23/2012 at 08:18 AM
A mystery in the blooming! Can't wait to see what happens to your spotted friend!
Posted by: margene | 01/23/2012 at 08:39 AM
Succulents are amazing. Anxious to see what the bloom is like! Go Spot Go!!
Posted by: Vicki | 01/23/2012 at 08:55 AM
You make it sound like a thriller, or should I say read? :)
Posted by: Rachel | 01/23/2012 at 09:03 AM
Super Gardener! Go Kym Go! It's so much fun when a plant does the unexpected. :)
Posted by: Marilyn | 01/23/2012 at 09:06 AM
My theory is that your agave has been magically transformed into... an amaryllis!
Patent that and you can retire ;-)
Posted by: kmkat | 01/23/2012 at 11:29 AM
Wow! That is so cool! You definitely have the Green Thumb, Kym.
Posted by: Lori on Little Traverse Bay | 01/23/2012 at 03:05 PM
The plant is giving all it's got to the flower, right? So the spots and leaves had to go. Just my guess, but I think it makes sense.
Super cool, no matter what's going on or why.
Posted by: Cookie | 01/23/2012 at 05:19 PM
go Kym go! (yes I am actually smiling about plants. you rock!!)
Posted by: Mary | 01/23/2012 at 09:40 PM
Can't wait to see the picture of the bloom :)
Posted by: Antigoni | 01/24/2012 at 03:21 PM