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crenda53

Well isn't this weird!

10 years ago

As I mentioned before, I have 3 Agave desmettiana sending up stalks. So the flowers will probably be here next spring. Two are looking just like regular Agave blooms.

And then there is this goof ball -

I have no idea why the tip is bending over. It gets full morning and afternoon sun, with a little shade from the Yucca in the afternoon. The plant nearby is fine. I don't see any pests on it, either.

Closer look -

I guess I'll just have to watch and see what happens!

All suggestions are appreciated. I think it is just weird, like the rest of my family! LOL

Comments (30)

  • 10 years ago

    How bizarre!!! Are its pups growing sideways as well?

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked LH On the Move
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    No, the pups around it are perfectly normal. I even considered winds when it first formed, but our winds come from the east (left side on this picture) or the south (behind the Yucca) so I don't thank that started it.

    This is on August 23rd, when I first noticed the bloom stalk. (Still can't believe it was that tall before I noticed!) It was a little bent, but I didn't think much about it.

    You can see the straight stalk right behind it. That plant is actually shielded from the morning sun to some extent, but it is not tilted at all. Still quite straight.

  • 10 years ago

    Crenda

    only thing I can think of is that it is leaning away from that white wall/post (don't know what it is), like the tree would if any obstacle is nearby...is it relatively close to it? Are any other stalks as close to anything or just this one? And I do not know if the inflo stalk would do such thing...probably yes?...just a wild guess...

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
  • 10 years ago

    My aloes sometimes have their flowers flimsy when there is a sudden lack of water. But once i give them that water, they perk right up again. I wouldn't know how that agave desmettiana is lacking in water in florida though. Anyway, it doesn't seem like a problem with health, but keep us updated.

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked garrett222
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Yeah - there's plenty of water. I've had 34 inches of rain since June 1st. My other plants are begging for a dry spell.

    Rina those plants are at the corner of my sun deck. There is a planter on the top side - with 2 pitiful little drain holes.

    This is when I first started working in this area - I really should have only planted one Yucca plant. Oh well . . .

    This is after I put in the Agaves. I ended up removing the center one.

    This is last January after I lifted the skirts. You can see the 2 Agaves clearly behind the Yuccas. Bozo me didn't know any of these would get so large so quickly.

    The sun does go behind the Yuccas and hits both plants after 1 PM. In the mornings the plant to the left, which has the straight inflo, is more shaded. This is from July.

    I certainly didn't give any of these plants optimum growing conditions. They are more crowded than I'd like, but again not as crowded as it looks.

    Maybe it IS the sun difference, Maybe it is a pest of some sort. And maybe there was some sort of mechanical damage. I did look for rodent bites, but didn't see any.

    Guess I'll just have to see what happens. At this point, the inflos seems to grow rather quickly. If this one stays bent, it will be in the yard!

  • 10 years ago

    It keeps getting weirder!

    A closer view -

  • 10 years ago

    That made me laugh! At least it will be entertaining to watch this one.

  • 10 years ago

    Crenda, I love your landscaping! Were there heavy rains that could have bent the flower stock? Its sure funny looking, as if it's going to walk up into the sky.

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked nanzjade z5 MA
  • 10 years ago

    We had some severe storms, which is normal for summer here, but nothing as severe as a tropical storm. The odd thing is, I have another Agave blooming near this one and the stalk is straight. And a third one out front looks normal, too. This one is just a weirdo!

    ♫ ♪ Sometimes you feel like a nut . . . ♪ ♫

  • 10 years ago

    I wonder if it isn't due to mites or some other pest or even fungal infection? (I recall having an aloe spike doing weird stuff and aloe mites were believed to be the culprits.

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked Paul MI
  • 10 years ago

    I can't see any pest or disease on the plant, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. I keep squeezing and looking to see, but so far, nothing.

    At first I thought it was leaning toward the morning sun, but this is something different. I guess time will tell.

  • 10 years ago

    What the ... ? That's so odd. It's going to impale itself LOL

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked bunkfree_4a_canada
  • 10 years ago

    Looks like it might make a loop and resume growing upward.

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked Polypompholyx
  • 10 years ago

    Polypompholyx..... That would be awesome, though, wouldn't it?

  • 10 years ago

    If it should happen to be something akin to aloe mites, you wouldn't see them on the plant ... They'd be in the plant.

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked Paul MI
  • 10 years ago

    Dr. Seuss would be proud!

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked LH On the Move
  • 10 years ago

    Thanks, Paul MI. I wondered if the mites were something that I would see or something that is hidden. It started out straight, just like the other plant nearby, but then took a turn. It's only 2-3 feet tall. I keep watching the other plant for a similar bend, but so far it is fine.

  • 10 years ago

    It looks OK except for the direction of growth. I don't see signs of disease- not that I'm an expert on Agave, anyway. Seems like it was just biologically confused about which way is up. It might've righted itself. The spike tip is beginning to point upward again and the little side shoots at the top of the crook are growing upward.

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked Polypompholyx
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Still crazy . . . after all these years. And plant is still a little wacko, too.

    The above picture was taken Sept. 21st. On Sept. 29th it was a tighter curl.

    I thought it would slide left or right and continue growing, but it didn't. On Oct. 30 it looked like it was impacted. All else growing normally.

    If you look at the curl straight on, you can see it is trying to wiggle free to the right.

    All of the branches on the inflo are impeding things, including a good view of what is going on. So I've been giving it a bit of a nudge each day to see if it will move.

    The answer is yes. I took this picture yesterday, Nov. 6th.

    That's quite a bit of growth in the last week. So now I'll just sit back and see if it continues to grow tall after this curly detour!

  • 10 years ago

    Awesome! Maybe it will take another loop by the looks of the tip....


    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked mesembs
  • 10 years ago

    Nothing would surprise me!

  • 10 years ago

    Hi

    How's it Doing Now,?

    Thanks

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked ninecrow
  • 10 years ago

    Crenda

    We want update :) Your threads about these agaves are very interesting and informative. And great photos too!

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
  • 10 years ago

    Yes, update please.. Your agave posts are what made me attracted to agaves in the first place (specifically your older post about blooming progress) ... ;D

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked chuckerfly
  • 10 years ago

    Well, Curly Sue is coming along after finally getting free. It's about 5 feet tall and new branches are unfurling.

    Here's a better look at the tip hidden in the flower buds. It is making its way past or through the buds. For now, it seems to be growing straight again.

    The plant on the other side of the Yucca is doing well. It is 10 feet tall and still growing straight.

    Some flowers are already opening up!

    I knew the bees and hummers like these flowers. Haven't seen any hummers yet. But surprisingly, little finches are flitting around the buds. I'm still trying to catch a picture of them.

    Do finches like to eat aphids? I noticed some today - it's nice being able to stand on the sun deck and look at the flowers! I'll have to try to blast them with water. No way will I use a pesticide while so many birds and bees are visiting!

    We had an electrical line break in the front yard. It was just for outlets and lights on the island, but it needed to be addressed. Unfortunately, the Agave that was blooming on the island was a casualty of running new conduit.

    Charlie was going to wait until it finished blooming, but I reminded him that it would probably be late spring! Here's the sad picture.

    I'll try to catch a picture of the finches. They are fast! And I'll be sure to let you know how things are coming along.

  • 10 years ago

    Crenda - Are you able to replant the blooming agave? It might continue!

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked ewwmayo
  • 9 years ago

    We wondered about replanting, but in the end we left it at the curb. I had one bloom last year, starting in Sept., and I have 50 pups rooted and doing well. With 2 plants blooming in the back of the house, too, I decided to let this one go.

    I don't know if a plant lover took it - which happens quite a lot when folks throw away something - or if the horticultural recycle got it.

  • 8 years ago

    Hi
    I Know This a Long Shot But How Did Mr Twist Do In The End Crenda?
    And Did You Replant Another Agave In The Spot That The One That Had To Sadly Go?
    Thanks

    Crenda 10A SW FL thanked ninecrow
  • 8 years ago

    Mr. Twist stayed curled, but continued through the process of blooming. The bees enjoyed it and I could watch the bees more easily since they were down lower. I think there were 4 different kinds collecting pollen.

    My neighbor is a snow bird and he asked me if he could keep his Agaves from dying by cutting the bloom stalk. I told him no, but he did it anyway. Here's what they look like now. LOL The 2 in the background are about done blooming and will start producing bulbils soon.


    I have another Agave growing from pup on one side of the front island and I planted an Aloe vera in place of the plant we had to remove. I may regret this because A. vera is a prolific pupper. It will keep me busy!


    I did not put another Agave in place of Mr. Twist. That area got too crowded. But the other side of the house had room! He He