Agave karatto (Antigua Agave) – Succulent plants

Agave karatto (Antigua Agave) an ornamental, rosette-forming succulent plant. The rosettes are up to 3 m wide. The leaves are dagger-like, medium green, up to 1 m long, with sharp tips and small teeth along the edges. The flowering spike is up to 5.5 m high, multiply branched near the top. The flowers are yellow in color. After blossoming, numerous bulbils appear near the spent flowers, forming new plants which shortly drop to the ground. it is the national flower of Antigua and Barbuda.

Scientific Classification:

Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Agave

Scientific Name: Agave karatto Mill.
Synonyms: Agave barbadensis, Agave keratto, Agave kerrato, Agave kerratto, Agave nevidis, Agave obducta, Agave salm-dyckii, Agave scheuermaniana, Agave trankeera, Agave van-grolae.
Common Names: Antigua Agave, West Indian Dagger, Century Plant, Maguey.

How to grow and maintain Agave karatto (Antigua Agave):

Light:
It thrives best in full sun to light shade. A south or south-east facing window works great.

Soil:
It prefers to grow in well-drained soil. Use standard succulent or cacti potting mix.

Temperature:
It prefers warm spring and summer temperatures 70ºF/21ºC – 90ºF/32ºC and cooler fall and winter temperatures 50ºF/10ºC – 60ºF/15ºC.

Water:
In spring, water this plant when the top inch of soil is totally dry. Don’t let the soil become completely dry. In the winter and fall, when growth is suspended, water very lightly. Too much water can cause root rot or cause the leaves to become pale and flop.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize with a standard liquid fertilizer every two weeks during spring and summer. Do not feed during fall and winter.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated from offshoots which is the fastest and most reliable method of agave plant production. Agave plants put out offshoots from the base of the mother plants that are easily removed to begin a new plant. Growing agave from seed produces a large number of plants quickly. A moist, sterile soil mix containing equal parts perlite and sphagnum peat is ideal for germinating seeds in a warm location with indirect light. The soil must stay lightly moist until the plants are established. A clear plastic covering helps keep the soil moist during the two to three weeks until the seeds sprout, then a daily misting keeps the seedlings moist until ready to transplant.

Pests and Diseases:
It has no serious pest or disease problems. Watch for mealybugs and scale.