Germinating Agave Seeds - Advice? Recently my mother rented a house for a few weeks in Tucson, Arizona. While she was there, she found a couple of seed-pods from Agave growing near the house. She knows I love plants and sent the seeds to me, but I have never tried growing cactus or agave from seed. Searching the web has brought me closer to understanding about germinating cactus seed, but I have so far been unable to find a good site that describes agave seed. Any advice?
I think you'll be using the same techniques as you would for cacti: Propagation of Cacti and Succulents from the Arizona Master Gardener manual.
I started Agave neomexicana in 5 days using a moist starter mix in a zip lock bag. I've also grown other species of Agave, Cacti and Yucca the same way. Some heat during the day speeds the process. Cheers, LPN.
I started a few different kinds of Agave this year, all with pretty much the same technique that LPN said, but instead of in plastic bags, I put them in pots with saran wrap over the top, I found it was easier to this way as I didn't have to try and pot them up after. I had the pots on bottom heat to keep them warm. The first ones started to germinate after a few days or so. Type of Agave were A. americana A. americana (superblue) A. horrida A. victoria reginae A.gentri A. montana I got a high rate of germination.
Hi Carol, I used the baggie method as a space saver. I'm starting 50 - 100 of each type and potting them up only as they germinate. Cheers, LPN.
Thanks for the responses! What do you use as an anti-fungal agent? I have read cinnamon, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide from various sites. Wondering what you've found works, because my first attempt got positively covered in that little wispy white fungus.
Sorry I was away and didn't see the question. I normally cook it in the microwave for awhile to sterilize. (shhh, don't tell my husband)
