Friends, Family & Carers Forum

[Determined]

Think you may be right about the agave attenuata @Former-Member. There is a large 'fox tail' in the front garden amongst these plants but was not sure if it was part of or something else.   Still not sure about the other one, close but a little different I think?  Leaves have smooth sides rather than barbed (if that is the correct description) shown in the online pics. 

[Determined]

Here are some more pics from around our yard.

[Determined]

This one is a bit messy. Wondering if a hair cut and some water hay improve it.

[Determined]

[Former-Member]

@Smc is probably the best person to advise on the succulents  @Determined but I believe they can be tidied up, not sure if hair cut the best method, perhaps division.

The palm looking plant is a cycad (these are usually $$ to buy can easily cost between  $250-500+ for a 1.5m wide plant, the cheaper ones are usually remove at purchasers expense).

[Former-Member]

[Smc]

Re. giving the succulent a haircut- with any plant that has a lot of woody growth at the base and leaves only at the tips, prune gently to start with. Often there's dormant buds in the woody growth that will start to grow once the tips have been cut back, but sometimes the buds are dead, not dormant. If they start to shoot out nicely after a few weeks, then prune back harder to encourage the new shoots.
You could give yourself some "plant insurance" by taking a few cutting sized pieces off the succulent. Leave them to dry off for a few days to a week, then put them into just-damp sand. Succulents store so much moisture in their leaves and stems that the cuttings often rot if they're put straight into sand without the drying off time.

[Former-Member]

Agave attenuata is also called a foxtail agave @Determined, this is one of its common names (is used for a few of the agave species).

[Determined]

Thanks for the tip re cuttings @Smc

There are a few plants around the yard I want to take cuttings of.

[Former-Member]

Agaves easily propagated the same way @Determined (nice gift too)