Agave geminaflora wrinkled leaves??

[rhwsmith]

About a month ago, I bought a small Agave geminaflora and I've noticed that the leaves appear slightly shriveled/wrinkled. I have watered it twice since I bought it-- the soil was completely dry each time. I don't remember if the plant looked like this when I bought it, but I have to believe it didn't because I don't think I would've bought it... Today I also noticed some white mold(?) on the dead leaves at the base of the plant which I cut off. I have scoured the internet and can't find anything about shriveled agave leaves! What is going on?

Sorry about the sideways pictures.. they were too big to upload the other direction

[mcvansoest]

Is it actual mold or are you looking at the products of a mealy bug infestation?
Alternatively some of the other scale insects also make white fluffy coverings.

Most of these are reasonably visible with the naked eye, but use a magnifying glass if necessary.

Both these can cause the plant to deteriorate very rapidly, with both shriveled and discolored leaves.
Not sure if you can still return it after a month, but I would expect that if it is an infestation that you brought it home with the plant. It is treatable but to really do that well you'd want to get some heavy duty pesticides, I use a combo of a contact and systemic insecticide.

I do not like having to do this, but none of the more benign treatments actually worked well enough to get this under control.

[rhwsmith]

Thank you!! I took it back to the nursery and they confirmed that it was mealy bugs.