February 23, 2015: The Swansong of an Aged Agave

Diaphone Jim · 02-24-2015, 01:24 PM

I like this IOTD!
Almost 40 years ago a Century Plant (Agave sisalana) sent up a stalk like that over the second floor roof of my mother's apartment building in Alhambra, California, bloomed spectacularly and produced hundreds of "pups," little clones that looked like Brussels sprouts.
I brought a shopping bag full of these home to Mendocino County and handed them out to friends, acquaintances and neighbors.
All of them seemed to start to grow and thrive, but everyone left them outside the next winter and they froze and died.
Except mine, which I had indoors. For the next 30 years.
At about five feet tall and six across, it finally outgrew the front room and I had to move it outdoors and replant it in a really big pot.
Then I had to build a cart to move it into the garage every time frost or freezing was expected, i.e. most nights from October to May.
I did that last night and will bring it back out to the sun today. And again tomorrow.
I wonder if it will bloom before I die.
If not, I hope the kids take care of it.
It looks like this:
http://www.serragardens.com/plantsSG...0variegata.jpg

02-24-2015, 01:24 PM	#4
Diaphone Jim Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,122	I like this IOTD! Almost 40 years ago a Century Plant (Agave sisalana) sent up a stalk like that over the second floor roof of my mother's apartment building in Alhambra, California, bloomed spectacularly and produced hundreds of "pups," little clones that looked like Brussels sprouts. I brought a shopping bag full of these home to Mendocino County and handed them out to friends, acquaintances and neighbors. All of them seemed to start to grow and thrive, but everyone left them outside the next winter and they froze and died. Except mine, which I had indoors. For the next 30 years. At about five feet tall and six across, it finally outgrew the front room and I had to move it outdoors and replant it in a really big pot. Then I had to build a cart to move it into the garage every time frost or freezing was expected, i.e. most nights from October to May. I did that last night and will bring it back out to the sun today. And again tomorrow. I wonder if it will bloom before I die. If not, I hope the kids take care of it. It looks like this: http://www.serragardens.com/plantsSG...0variegata.jpg

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