Debbie,
I grow 90 percent of my succulent (cacti included) plants from seed.
I've been growing succulents from seed since 1978. This not only keeps the
cost down (teachers don't make much moola) but gives me access to plant
species unavailable from nurseries, even specialist nurseries.
It usually takes two to three years from seed to a plant large enough to go
outside. Initially, this seems a long time, but once you begin sowing seed
each year you always have plants on hand large enough to go out each year.
This year I have a batch of 40 Agaves from the Big Bend area that I will put
outside, 30 in a cold frame and the other 10 in the ground. Excess plants
are sold at the local C&S society which in turn pays for more seed. It's a
vicious cycle. 8-)
Bob (seeding away) Stewart
Southern Maryland (USDA Zone 7)
rs72@umail.umd.edu
OK--I take it back--your PATIENCE takes my breath away....
D.
In a message dated 98-07-02 14:23:08 EDT, you write:
<< This year I have a batch of 40 Agaves from the Big Bend area that I will
put
outside, 30 in a cold frame and the other 10 in the ground. >>
Bob,
Can you tell me more about these? Are they also called Devil's Walking Stick?
I have something that blooms in spring that has banded fingerlike succulant
leaves. The blooms are red umbels that stand 3 - 5 ft tall, with most topping
out at 3.5 ft. THe plant is rather nondescript, almost ugly until it blooms.
Thank goodness I followed someones advice and did not dig up anything the
first year we were here. I have been trying to identify them, but nothing in
any book I have ever seen is even close. I surmised Agave by pure
speculation.
Anne in FL
zone 9 where the agave get bigger by the day
