Succulent Plants Century Plant by Elyssa Goins 2 years ago by Elyssa Goins Published: July 19, 2023Updated: September 19, 2023 This article was fact checked. Helpful: 100% Share 0FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail 651 Table of Contents Toggle DescriptionFactsCentury Plant CarePotential Problems Century plant is the main common name used for this succulent plant species Agave americana. It is also known as the American Century Plant, Maguey, and Mexican Soap Plant. The name Century Plant is popular because of how long it takes to flower, up to 25 years. After it flowers, the main plant will actually die! This hardy plant is capable of handling a range of temperatures. Its hardy nature makes it a great plant to keep around the home. View on Amazon Description The Agave americana also goes by the common name of American aloe or century plant. It is part of the Asparagaceae family and can be found in areas that range from South America to Mexico. It’s also known as Agave cactus, but it is not a cacti plant, just has some similarities. It is an evergreen perennial succulent that can grow to a height of 6ft indoors. This is a plant that is hardy as it is able to tolerate low temperatures but cannot survive frosts. The plant can live for up to 10 – 30 years, not quite a century. Foliage: The foliage of the Century plant consists of rosettes that are rigid but rather fleshy along with leaves that have spiny edges. It is gray-green in color. There is also the Agave americana marginata (variegated ) variety that displays green leaves with yellow edges which I find more attractive. Flowering: The flowers of the Agave americana are green-yellow in color and can grow up to 8cm in length in clusters. These flowers grow on a large stem that reaches heights much taller than the actual plant. This species is monocarpic which means it will only flower once in its lifetime then the plant dies. The lower stem will produce pups that can be removed and propagated. Displaying: As this is a plant that requires full sun it will need to be displayed in a spot that has full sun and is also sheltered. It is commonly found in Architectural City and Courtyard Gardens along with Coastal Patios and containers. Due to the size of the plant, it can be placed in a container but this would have to be a considerable size. It’s best suited for conservatories, large hallways, and large buildings because of its size. During warmer months the Century plant will appreciate being placed outdoors. Care level: This is a plant that is relatively easy to care for. Due to its habitat, it is capable of handling warm, dry areas and due to the fact that it only needs moderate watering during the summer and nearly no watering in the winter, maintenance is simple. Facts Origin:South America.Names:Century plant, Agave cactus, Maguey, American aloe (common). Agave americana (botanical/scientific).Max Growth (approx):Height 1m – 1.5m, 6ft indoors. 10ft outdoors.Poisonous for pets:Toxic for cats and dogs. Agave americana in a botanical garden, Singapore Agave americana marginata in a tropical garden Century Plant Care Temperature:The plant thrives in warm temperatures during the summer although the winter months can prove troublesome should the temperature fall below 10°C. It handles changes in day and night time temperatures very well. Temperatures averaging 70°F/21°C – 80°F/26°C are very good and not much below 50°F/10°C.Light:A liquid fertilizer will be fine to use every two weeks while the plant is actively growing. During the rest period, the plant will not require fertilizing.Watering:The Century plant does prefer soil that drains very well. This does mean that the loam soil should be used that contains sand so that it remains moist but drains well. The soils should be PH Acid Neutral.Soil:Like other succulents, the Agave americana does need more water during its growth period. Water enough to make the potting mixture moist but allow two-thirds of the potting mixture to dry out before watering again. During the rest period, the plant requires very little water and only enough to stop the potting mixture from drying out. In its natural sub-tropical and semi-arid regions it spends a lot of time without water and survives well because the leaves are storage organs for water and nutrients.Fertilizer:The plant should be re-potted each spring while it’s growing, moving it to a pot that is one size larger. To enhance drainage a layer of broken crocks in the base of the pot will help drainage. Once the plant has reached the maximum convenient pot size it should be top-dressed during the spring months.Re-Potting:The plant should be re-potted each spring while it’s growing, moving it in a pot that is one size larger. To enhance drainage a layer of broken crocks in the base of the pot will help drainage. Once the plant has reached the maximum convenient pot size it should be top-dressed during the spring months.Air Humidity:The plant will grow well in a room that consists of a normal humidity. Fresh air benefits this species. >Propagation:Offsets that can be found at the base of the plant can be used to propagate. Once the offset is around 8-10cm long it can be detached and put into a standard potting mixture. Ensure that it is well rooted and only give it enough water so that the potting mixture is slightly moist. They are also propagated with seeds. Potential Problems It can suffer from rotting at the base of the plant as well as wilting of the leaves. This indicates that the plant has been overwatered and has poor drainage. Brown spots that are hard and dry can be seen on the leaves indicating that it may not be receiving enough water during the growth period. View on Amazon Was this helpful? Submit Cancel Thanks for your feedback! Elyssa GoinsElyssa Goins is an experienced house plant hobbyist who maintains over a hundred plants. She is a gardener, beekeeper, and a proud mother of four. She is a member of the American Horticultural Society, has a published study in the National Social Science Association, and loves to talk about her love of plants. For the past twenty years, she’s been all about growing and caring for various fruits, veggies, herbs, livestock, kids, and houseplants. Managing a big garden to feed four growing kids and raising dairy goats has taught her so much about being an excellent plant parent and now is her time to share with you. Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail previous post House Plant Care Guides next post 8 Tips on Growing Beautiful Desert Rose Plants 0 0 votes Article Rating Subscribe Login Notify of new follow-up comments new replies to my comments Label {} [+] Name* Email* Website Δ Label {} [+] Name* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 5 Comments Oldest Newest Most Voted Inline Feedbacks View all comments Raymond Brown 2 years ago As a point of public safety you should also list a caution note that cuting the keaves in this p,ant and getting the pulp and sap in your skin can cause extremely painful rash that can last for weeks. I can attest to this after suffering weeks from just such an encounter. Mary Lloyster Reply to Raymond Brown 2 years ago Yes, it’s true and prevention is better than cure, and we need to be extra careful when pruning a plant. Dan Levert 1 year ago Very nice post. I absolutely appreciate this website. Keep writing! Paula nelson 1 year ago Can you use the sap like aloe Vera or is it too Poisonous? Elyssa Goins Author Reply to Paula nelson 1 year ago Paula. The Century plant sap is bad news! It has small, sharp oxalate crystals and saponins. Skin can become red after contact, blister, pain, and burns may occur.
