[Arid_gardener] blooming agave and why no flower on the hedgehog?

[Linda Drew]

Hi, Deidre

If the agave has already died, you can cut the stalk and store in
to allow the seed to mature. Or is it an agave that produces the
little plants on the stalk? THey should be forming now or soon --
stalk can be cut and plantlets removed and planted.

For lots of information about cacti and succulents, see:
http://www.tucsoncactus.org/

The hedgehog cactus should produce flowers. Check
general care:
water well; allow to dry out between watering
reduce watering in fall to allow plants to go dormant
for peak blooms, feed in spring, early summer (balanced fertilizer)
full sun or afternoon shade
well-drained soils

I would guess the problem might be too much regular
water or too little sun.

Linda Drew
Master Gardener

>From: "Deirdre Nunan" <rdwallace at qwest.net>
>To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>Subject: [Arid_gardener] blooming agave and why no flower on the hedgehog?
>Date: Thu, 4 May 2006 19:53:53 -0700
>
>Hi, I have two questions.  One concerns my agave that bloomed in the past 
>few months, that long stalked astonishing thing full of yellow blossoms.  
>The main plant beneath has died of course.  Do I allow it to fall over by 
>itself, or should I pull it out of the ground?  I think I read somewhere 
>that it could last up to a year.  My dilemma is that I will be out of town 
>for 5 weeks in June, early July, and I'd hate for it to fall over by 
>itself.
>The second question is about a hedgehog cactus.  My sister and I bought one 
>each.  Mine flowers, hers doesn't.  Does it mean hers is a male?   Does she 
>solve it by getting a female?  Thanks for your time.   Regards, Deirdre 
>Wallace


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