BajaNomad

What does this succulent do next?

Woooosh - 12-3-2011 at 02:46 PM

I planted this succulent six years ago. Last month it put out this ten foot long stem covered with blossoms. The bees are loving it. At first I though the entire plant would die off (because it has several "puffs" below it already), but now I see small green leaves behind the blossoms. What is this thing and how long before it takes out my wall? ;)





[Edited on 12-3-2011 by Woooosh]

DENNIS - 12-3-2011 at 02:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh

What does this succulent do next?





Turns carnivorous. :o

Cypress - 12-3-2011 at 02:53 PM

Become a desert version of Kudzu?

danaeb - 12-3-2011 at 02:56 PM

Sadly, the mother plant dies back, but those babies at the base will come on strong. Most agaves do this.

Bob and Susan - 12-3-2011 at 03:23 PM

don't forget to feed it

Ateo - 12-3-2011 at 03:47 PM

Nothing can be that erect forever. It has to come down eventually.;)

Islandbuilder - 12-3-2011 at 05:41 PM

woooosh, man, you have a beautiful home!

BooJumMan - 12-3-2011 at 06:57 PM

That is a Spanish... (crap! I forgot the last part of the name...)

bacquito - 12-3-2011 at 07:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb
Sadly, the mother plant dies back, but those babies at the base will come on strong. Most agaves do this.


The photo indicates that the mother plant is already dying.

BajaRat - 12-3-2011 at 07:08 PM

Now I see one of the many reasons you stick by your Baja home! It looks wonderful. Oh and by the way from my limited experience with what I believed was a type of agave is after flowering it will live for a bit and then the new tops will have their moment of glory. Beautiful ;D

bacquito - 12-3-2011 at 07:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ateo
Nothing can be that erect forever. It has to come down eventually.;)


I agree but if by chance the erect behavior continues perhaps a plant doctor should be consulted. It could be serious!

Islandbuilder - 12-3-2011 at 07:41 PM

Consult a horticulturalist for any plant spike lasting more than 4 hours....

Sallysouth - 12-3-2011 at 07:53 PM

The mother plant does die.They are so easy to take an offshoot and stick in the ground.Hearty buggers, they are.

Barry A. - 12-3-2011 at 07:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BooJumMan
That is a Spanish... (crap! I forgot the last part of the name...)


Spanish Dagger????

woody with a view - 12-3-2011 at 08:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BooJumMan
That is a Spanish... (crap! I forgot the last part of the name...)


...... Fly!:light:

BajaRat - 12-3-2011 at 08:10 PM

Bayonet

Woooosh - 12-3-2011 at 08:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sallysouth
The mother plant does die.They are so easy to take an offshoot and stick in the ground.Hearty buggers, they are.


An off-shoot of that? Do you have a Bris or something? lol

I was hoping that is the case actually (next step- dead). It was getting too top-heavy for the planter I built into the stairwell and I was worried about it breaking the block. I'll let the bees enjoy the nectar- they haven't been interested in us or the dogs so far. The little guys growing under it will be fine there for a long time then.

Iflyfish - 12-3-2011 at 09:24 PM

Amazing plant and stunning tile work and planters, beautiful, well done!

Iflyfish

Ateo - 12-3-2011 at 09:27 PM

Beautiful friggen casa.

Woooosh - 12-3-2011 at 09:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ateo
Beautiful friggen casa.

thanks for the compliments on the design. Nothing fancy like those Diane Gibbs houses though. It's 100% cement block with concrete floors- built like a Lego toy then covered with plaster. The magic is always in the plaster, paint and small details. It has turned out to be a good, secure house design for the beach and the dogs, not so much for the cold and rain. Glad we did it- when we did it. It was a fun project working with the local builders and trades people.

Still learning about succulents. I grew up around tobacco plants. Some of the succulents we thought were plants years ago have matured into trees. We're still figuring out how to accommodate those as they grow.

[Edited on 12-4-2011 by Woooosh]

Paulina - 12-3-2011 at 09:44 PM

We had one too. They are beautiful. It did it's big bloom then it ended up falling over and dying. The plant itself was getting too big for where it was planted so it was cut all the way back to the stump. It has since started growing back. I hope it flowers again.



P>*)))>{

Woooosh - 12-3-2011 at 09:46 PM

a twin! LOL I'll make sure I cut mine before it damages the planter. Thanks

Ateo - 12-4-2011 at 09:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by ateo
Beautiful friggen casa.

thanks for the compliments on the design. Nothing fancy like those Diane Gibbs houses though. It's 100% cement block with concrete floors- built like a Lego toy then covered with plaster. The magic is always in the plaster, paint and small details. It has turned out to be a good, secure house design for the beach and the dogs, not so much for the cold and rain. Glad we did it- when we did it. It was a fun project working with the local builders and trades people.

Still learning about succulents. I grew up around tobacco plants. Some of the succulents we thought were plants years ago have matured into trees. We're still figuring out how to accommodate those as they grow.

[Edited on 12-4-2011 by Woooosh]


Personally, I love cement floors. Easy to clean and very little maintenance required. When I retire to Baja someday I'm going with this style....

Love the succulents too. Over the years I've learned the only plants I don't kill are cactus and succulents, and that's all I have in my backyard. Don't need much water and hard to kill.

Also dig those colorful pots. May I ask where you purchased?

Mexitron - 12-4-2011 at 12:27 PM

Its an Agave attenuata, Foxtail Agave...FYI.

The little guys underneath are what I was refering to as offshoots.You didn't plant them did you?Beautiful casa!!!

Sallysouth - 12-4-2011 at 02:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by Sallysouth
The mother plant does die.They are so easy to take an offshoot and stick in the ground.Hearty buggers, they are.


An off-shoot of that? Do you have a Bris or something? lol

I was hoping that is the case actually (next step- dead). It was getting too top-heavy for the planter I built into the stairwell and I was worried about it breaking the block. I'll let the bees enjoy the nectar- they haven't been interested in us or the dogs so far. The little guys growing under it will be fine there for a long time then.

Woooosh - 12-4-2011 at 02:59 PM

The offshoots under the large "Foxtail Agave" grew on their own. All the Talavera pots were purchased in Rosarito Beach at the little shops on Popotla Blvd (Artisans area). They all come from Guadalajara. They used to be about $35 each for the larger ones. We were shopping for some replacements a few weeks ago (victims of labrador tails) and they were $50 each at the same stores- and they wouldn't bargain for two or three. When times get lean in Mexico- they raise the prices... go figure. And no, we didn't buy any.

BigOly - 12-5-2011 at 12:19 PM

The shoots of some Agaves make for a nice Xmas tree.

Another odd one, the boojum tree!

David K - 12-5-2011 at 12:41 PM

Some photos from the past...


Sarah and Andee near Rancho Santa Ana, San Borja region


Neal Johns Tacoma near San Borja

Josh on the road to Montevideo, off San Borja road.