Agave “Blue Glow” is a succulent with rather slow growth. It is also small in size, making it perfect for keeping indoors, especially if you don’t have a garden but want to be close to nature.
This plant is a hybrid between Agave attenuata and Agave ocahui.
The Agave “Blue Glow” belongs to the Asparagaceae family; it is similar to the Agave’ Blue Flame’ but smaller.
Agave “Blue Glow” is a beautiful plant that reaches a height of 45 cm to 60 cm.
The leaves of this plant are bluish-green. They grow in the form of a solitary rosette with an agglomerated growth habit.
The leaves are approximately 45 cm long and about 3 cm wide, and it also has a red terminal spine.
Its leaves are robust, thick, and rigid, they are also adorned with a bright red margin and a thin and yellow internal line.
You must be careful with this plant because the edges of the leaves of this plant are not sharp, but it doesn’t mean that the tips of the terminal spine are not sharp, but quite the contrary, they are quite sharp.
Agave “Blue Glow” flowers once in a lifetime, and then the plant dies.
The flower, has a beautiful yellow, red margins on the leaves with small smooth spines and a short red terminal spine.
This plant, when grown outdoors, the plants usually mature between the ages of ten and fifteen years.
At maturity, Blue Glow plants grow strongly, straight flower stem of 10 feet tall.
But, if kept indoors, your plant may never flower at all.
At their apex, greenish-yellow flowers approximately 5 cm to 7 cm inches long appear in attractive and striking panicles.
The flower stem emerges from the center of the basal rosette.
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Agave “Blue Glow” Care:
Like all succulents, Agave “blue glow” is an easy plant to care for, as it does not require particular care.
So it is an ideal plant for beginners who are just starting out in the plant care world.
Temperature:
Agave “Blue glow” needs a warm environment where temperatures stay above 68°F.
The optimum temperature range for this plant’s good growth is between 68°F to 95°F
The minimum temperature to which this plant is subjected must be less than 41°F; if so, this can be fatal for the plant, a lower temperature will cause the leaves and roots rot.
Substratum:
These plants tolerate any type of substrate but prefer a mixture of soil with rocks and some sand.
Many species live without problems in lands poor in organic matter.
Although they are very resistant, the land must have good water drainage because stagnation rots them quickly.
You can buy a specific substrate for cacti and succulents or create your own substrate from home.
Here I leave you some ideas of substrates that you can make yourself.
Idea # 1
50% Universal Substrate
50% coarse sand or river sand
Idea # 2
2 portions of the universal substrate
A portion of gravel
A portion of vermiculite
Idea # 3
Two parts universal substrate
A portion of perlite
A portion of coarse sand
If you want to add some organic ingredients, the best is “hummus”.
Irrigation frequency:
You should water your “blue glow” agave only when the soil is dry, at least 90%.
Generally, it is watered 1 time per week or every 15 days, depending on the place’s temperature.
In winter, you must reduce the frequency of irrigation to once every 15 days or once a month.
Remember that succulents are very susceptible to water stagnation, the roots can quickly build excess moisture.
Fertilizer:
These plants don’t really need a compost.
But if you want to give your plant more nutrients so that it grows healthy and strong, you can use some special fertilizer for cacti and succulents.
You should try to make sure that the compost you buy contains the least amount of chemical ingredients to prevent the plant from burning.
The fertilizer should be applied every 15 days in the summer and completed once the winter begins.
Another option is to use a homemade fertilizer, such as earthworm humus, Fish emulsion.
Earthworm humus benefit:
• Earthworm humus contains more than 60 different micronutrients and minerals, including potassium, iron, carbon, copper, magnesium, zinc, and calcium.
• Allows plant roots to absorb the nutrients they need.
• Improves soil aeration and nutrition of beneficial microorganisms.
• Earthworm humus contains enzymes that repel many pests, such as whiteflies and aphids.
Fish Emulsion Benefits:
Fish emulsion is an organic fertilizer that is made from whole or part fish.
Provides an NPK ratio (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) of 4-1-1.
Succulents love this compost.
At home, we use half the recommended dose and fertilize every month during the growing months.
You can substitute the fish emulsion for seaweed fertilizer.
Although the former works better.
The only downside to this compost is the bad smell.
Every two months, we add two or three drops of super thrive to the mixture.
How often should you fertilize?
Just as youngsters need additional nutrients when they are growing, succulents need more nutrients than normal in their period of active growth.
If you use liquid fertilizer (compost tea, fish emulsion, super thrive, 20-20-20, etc.), use once a month during its active growth period.
If you use worm humus, fertilize once or twice per period of active growth.
If you use compost, only fertilize once a year.
Some recommend fertilizing tropical succulents weekly. Don’t do it.
Pruning:
To maintain the looks of your succulent,it is recommended to remove, (with the help of a sharp and disinfected object), the leaves that are dry or in the process of drying.
Plagues and diseases:
These plants can be attacked by mealybugs located underneath the leaves.
The symptoms they present are; eaten areas on the stem and leaves and the presence of the characteristic slime.
They can completely devour the attacked plant.
These usually appear with high humidity, rain, or irrigation.
These pests are found in the most tender and juicy areas of the plant, making them easy to locate.
If the infection is minimal, they can be removed with the fingers very easily.
When the infection is numerous, anti-mealybug products should be used to get at any point of sale.
Aphids can also attack agaves; These insects can transmit viruses to our plant, requiring their immediate elimination with insecticides.
Just keep in mind these pets usually appear on plants that have rosette-shaped leaves.
The symptoms are; the rolled leaves, twisted shoots, growth stops, and blackened necrotic areas.
The attack, bite of the aphids, stop the growth and development of the plant.
They are easily eliminated with commercial insecticides suitable for this purpose.
Another problem that this plant can present is the lack or excess of irrigation.
If we look at the yellowish and flabby leaves, it may be due to this.