Julie

Is it possible that bark hold too much moisture? Or, sometimes, it can become hydrophobic.

I don't know much about agaves, have just couple and they are in a similar mix, but without bark. I keep them outdoors during summer, and usually, they get watered when it rains.

Do you know which one is it? - what is it's growth habit? It looks like it has few pups - it is either happy and multiplying, or unhappy and trying to reproduce itself...

Looks like insufficient light is the largest issue. That would cause the leaves to come down like that. In full sunshine, an Agave generally points its leaves up high in order to diffuse the mid-day sunshine. Shady conditions will bring the leaves down in a desperate attempt to get more direct light. I'm assuming this is being grown indoors in your northern climate zone. Indoor warmth without strong light will make a weak Agave.

Do you know the cultivar name?

A strategy in northern climates is to keep Agaves in a cold place where it's not quite freezing. They can sort of hibernate like that until the sunshine returns. Although I have no idea how that would work in Quebec. Where I live some people have large potted Agaves that they move into a garage for the winter. But our winters are not the same as yours.

Thank you both for your replies

This agave did not come with identification and it is my first. The best ID I could come up with is Agave potatorum, but I would love this to be confirmed by an experienced gardener. I figured it would need the same soil conditions as my other succulents, who are doing well (as far as I can see).

I will move it closer to the window and if I don't see an improvement I'll put in in winter boarding at the nursery (closest to garage idea in Quebec, but costs $!)

Any idea why the leaves are shrivelled?

Will keep you posted...

Julie

Its nearly impossible to give a positive ID when the agave is not mature, as there are hundreds of species that look like this while young. I suspect agave pygmaea.

In my climate, its nearly impossible to overwater an agave of that type, though I can't say the same for your climate. I would suspect the shriveling is due to a root problem. If not rot, it is probably underwatering. When shriveling happens to my agaves, it is because of underwatering and perks back up within a few days of normal watering.

Are there drainage holes in that pot? How much water is used once a week?

tj

Yes there is a 1/4 inch drainage hole on the bottom. I put all my succulents in the sink on a dish rack and run tap water through them about 10 seconds. Water rushes right out of the drainage holes and down the drain. There is never any water accumulation. Is that too much water? My crassulas don't seem to be having any trouble, nor my echeveria or haworthia (or any of my cacti for that matter). So I really don't understand why the agave is so wrinkled :-(

Hi Julie,

I would get your Agave's mix is too porous (one of the reasons I don't care for the gritty mix, but that's another subject entirely). If you can make your mix with more of a soil component, while still being porous, I think the Agaves will appreciate it. Given that winter's almost here, and our sun won't be all that prominent for a while, I'd stop watering it weekly and go to every 10 days or so. If you can give it sun and warmth in the winter (as much as possible), it's going to grow some, just not as fast as in the spring/summer/early fall.

PS - I miss Montreal bagels.

Thank you for the suggestions!

PS bought a bag of St-Viateurs today ;-)

Julie, you ever see a dog like a boxer anticipating a treat? I need a towel for the drooling.

The robins are in the mountain ash trees today, feeding up before headed south. I need to get back outside to bringing in plants for the winter. Come on, April!

I agree with your ID, although A. potatorum is so variable and when plants are small they're also difficult to ID. Remember, in watering and in much else, when in doubt, don't.