Do you have any gardening superstition? I don't but I think I'm starting to develop one. That is that I must be careful when cutting and repotting Agave attenuata for doing so brings hail!
It started last year when I chopped two Agave attenuata living in our conservatory that were leaning at an acute angle which I then repotted upright. One detail that I forgot to mention on my post about it then was that some light hail fell as soon as I did the deed. Just my luck, they remained pristine indoors (albeit leaning) and the short moment they spent outdoors it just had to hail, great! Fortunately it was only light and the blemishes it sustained was minimal and barely noticeable.
Fast forward to May this year. In a recent post I made about my favourite shed it featured a photo of the Agave attenuata that was on the table inside that shed. Just like the two specimens living in the conservatory this one also developing a lean but still seemed secure in remaining upright with its heavy terracotta pot. Or so I thought. Going back into the shed the next day I discovered that the agave had fallen on to the floor, some leaves broken and gravel mulch scattered all over the place making a royal mess. Sigh, the agave has just jumped! The lean was bad enough for it to inevitably topple.
 |
| The jumping agave (fortunately the other succulents weren't harmed when it jumped) |
 |
| Poor pockmarked Agave attenuata! |
 |
| So is this variegated one |
 |
| Even this Agave lophantha got blemished |
Mark :-)
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Haha, that is bad luck!! I hope it wont start to hail next times you work with your agaves! and I also hope your A. attenuata will grow and hide those blemishes fast.
ReplyDeleteThey grow very quick Lisa, in a month you would barely notice the blemishes :) no more hail please!
DeleteHmm. So there's a weather god somewhere who doesn't like people tampering with his Agaves, eh? If you discover one that brings rain, please let me know - my rain dancing is getting old.
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know Kris once I do. The weather god was having a giggle :)
DeleteHi Mark, oooaaah poor agaves! It is amazing how much damage the hail did to the leaves. But at least the good news is that they will grow out of it...
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are just contemplating to come to the UK again this year, but hail in May doesn't sound very inviting, though....
Warm regards,
Christina
It was the odd occasion Christina, hopefully there won't be any more. Just glad that it wasn't that strong nor they were that big, we had a bad one a few years ago and the garden was shredded...no more please!
DeleteWow, who knew you had such weather powers? Hail is certainly destructive, especially on the soft succulents.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Loree, we had a bad one many years ago and it was heartbreaking to see the garden shredded.
DeleteSuicidal agaves are a new one for me! Did you keep the bottom half (the stump with the roots) of the chopped agave? 2 for 1!
ReplyDeleteI did Amy :) looking forward to seeing the stump sprout some new agaves
DeleteI think you just gave me a topic to blog too, in my case it is with the hoya and the goat! Kidding aside, if you turn the agave 2X/week to 1 direction each time just to equalize its sensitivity to the brightest light, do you think it will still lean? The leaning most probably points to the most light direction, it is also possible to turn it 180 degrees weekly. Try it and let us know what happens to the leaning. Otherwise put a stake, hehe.
ReplyDeleteThat's possible Andrea, only thing is its easy to lose track of doing it when there's lots to do in the garden :) also it's their inclination to lean and creep out when grown on the ground
DeleteYou'll have to figure out which Agave to repot in order to bring wonderful sunny days. (Once you have a record of repotting which Agaves causes what, you'll have the "Harry RePotter" spellbook. :D
ReplyDeleteThat made me laugh Alan :))
DeleteAha, so that was you that caused that sudden out of nowhere hail storm! Can't quite remember when it was - last Tuesday? Trying to recall if it was part of the heavy downpours that hit Chelsea on Tuesday of last week. Anyway, glad you were at Chelsea same day as me, no chance of hailstorms then!
ReplyDeleteShame we didn't get to see you there Caro, we are overdue a catch up! :)
Deleteyou will have to give us notice in future, so we can prepare lol!!
ReplyDeleteI might do that Libby :))
DeleteJumping agaves and hail-inducing plant practices. Perhaps you're a wizard and don't know it.
ReplyDeleteHaha wouldn't that be nice Peter :)
DeleteChange that to a rain dance and you could find yourself much in demand. The hail damage doesn't look too bad...kinda like a new, speckled variety.
ReplyDeleteThat'll be good if I do discover something that cosmically induces rain Rickii :)
DeleteHail? Here that is something that often accompanies tornados! Definitely weird that this happened to you two years in a row; perhaps you should keep them inside for a week or so after repotting!
ReplyDeleteOuuuch! Wind always arrives on cue as soon as I plant my climbing French beans at the allotment.
ReplyDelete