Question about separating pups from agave

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plantdirtbag
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Question about separating pups from agave

#1

Post by plantdirtbag »

I have several agave that are pushing out pups and I’ve never separated them before. One in particular is my biggest agave and it’s pushing out like ~10 pups and it’s in big planter with barely any space left so it’s not going to be easy. Any tips on separating without disturbing the main plant, and/or on repotting the puppers?

I’m tempted to just leave them, but there just isn’t enough room:
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Gee.S
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Re: Question about separating pups from agave

#2

Post by Gee.S »

Best way to do it is to completely disturb the main plant. Pull it up and out of the pot, then peel off the offsets you want before replacing, adding a little media as needed.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".

"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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RCDS66
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Re: Question about separating pups from agave

#3

Post by RCDS66 »

Gee.S wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 11:30 am Best way to do it is to completely disturb the main plant. Pull it up and out of the pot, then peel off the offsets you want before replacing, adding a little media as needed.
Absolutely agreed.
My oteroi plant shown below also had 6-7 pups but when I tried to remove them, I ended up injuring my fingers as oteroi has very hard leaves and pups were almost hidden below the lower leaves. Then I pulled the whole plant out, removed all the pups and replanted the agave. That was much convenient.
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plantdirtbag
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Re: Question about separating pups from agave

#4

Post by plantdirtbag »

That is a gorgeous plant!
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Gafoto
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Re: Question about separating pups from agave

#5

Post by Gafoto »

Yep, Gee has it right. Pulling them with the rootball in the pot usually results in blood.
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Melt in the Sun
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Re: Question about separating pups from agave

#6

Post by Melt in the Sun »

I rudely yank them out from underneath all the time...not the easiest thing and not always painless (and you risk destroying the offset if it's small), but it sure is fast!
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