Round 2 of a coring story

[Melt in the Sun]

Five or six years ago, I bought a small A. montana with small stripes of variegation on 2 or 3 leaves. I cored it and chronicled that story on Xeric World...it produced ten or so offsets, most of which I gave away after growing them to 4" or so with no hint of variegation. Since I still have some of the photos and XW is toast, here's a bit of the sequence without much commentary:

[Melt in the Sun]

Eventually, one of the tiny pups grew where I could clearly see that it sprung from the apical bud above one of the most variegated leaves. I left that one attached, to give it the best possible start (mama's root system). Several years of neglect later, I have this little fella who is poorly photographed, but if you look carefully you can see that about half the leaves, all around the rosette, have variegated stripes.

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The plan forward is obvious, is it not? After seeing some other threads about coring and absorbing some of those techniques (mainly removing the variegated leaves, to try and force those buds to pup), I dug into this one.

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We'll see how it goes! Next time I promise to drink less beer before taking the pictures...they really are ghastly and I apologize!

[Melt in the Sun]

And tagging along with the thread, this is round 1 for this plant. Neglect has never suited this one well - constantly being in a pot and moved around has made it a bit misshapen, often sun-beaten and underwatered, and generally a scraggly fella that deserves better. To add insult to injury, I cored it so that I can share the offsets with people who grow things more carefully than I do!

It came from Kelly G. via Greg Starr. Kelly told Greg (and me, on XW) that this plant came up during the 'Blue Glow' genesis. So, it's attenuata x ocahui, part of the same grex that produced BG. So, it's one of a kind, for now...hopefully I didn't kill it.

[Bananaguy]

Very interesting. I read your other project you did. If it’s not to late an my large Americana is shot from cold snap might try that. I would be interested in a pup from this project for my greenhouse if all goes well as nice looking Agave.

[Melt in the Sun]

The variegated blue glow sibling in post 3 is producing offsets - two so far and both look evenly marginata, just like the mother plant. Good news!

[Spination]

Offsets from out of the cored area, or the usual place at the base of the plant? Just curious...

[Melt in the Sun]

Out of the center, so far.

[Agave Down Under]

Sounds awesome!!!
Please please some pictures!!!!☺

[Neli]

Very interesting. I need to try coring and splitting in half and see what will happen. What do you think will be better for this agave? Never gave me pups but it is so pretty. Can I do it in the ground?

[Neli]

So far I have cored only several echeveria agavoides varieties, and did it because I saw the cored agaves.

[Melt in the Sun]

You could definitely do it in the ground! I have never tried with a plant that large, but it should work well.

[Neli]

You could definitely do it in the ground! I have never tried with a plant that large, but it should work well.

What is better (easier) ..safer? Split it in half or core it? Thank you.

[dasinical1]

The variegated blue glow sibling in post 3 is producing offsets - two so far and both look evenly marginata, just like the mother plant. Good news!

Such a nice looking agave... I'm glad it's producing offsets for you. Any updated pics?

[Melt in the Sun]

I'll take some - last I looked, it has three babies in the center. Maybe by spring they'll be large enough to separate and root....

[Melt in the Sun]

In April 2019...

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Separated and rooting nicely...among friends. They are the three in the front center, in ceramic pots. Mama has since sprouted babies number 4 and 5.

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[Spination]

Very nice - great job!

[abborean]

what are those cacti in the foreground? Have seen similar the size of a walnut or slightly larger but unless your pots are tiny that's very large.

[Gee.S]

Tephrocactus. I have similar or the same.

[Melt in the Sun]

GS is right, T. aoracanthus. A falling tree branch knocked a couple segments loose.

[Gee.S]

Mine fall off if you blow on 'em.

[Melt in the Sun]

Two of the variegated babies have survived and I'm going to sell both. One rotted shortly after rooting, the fourth was eaten by a rat and the fifth was too small to root. The mother plant is dead and thrown away.

If you're interested let me know...otherwise they'll be included in a larger sale/trade post in a couple weeks.