Expert: Maureen - 3/6/2011

Question
Dear Maureen, please help.I have several blue agave plants that I have had for about 6 years. I live in Silver City, New Mexico @ an altitude of about 9,500 ft. in elevation. In that time the plants had thrived and they were really beautiful. They were big, beautiful and lush. All my plants are outside and we had a hard winter & they almost froze completly and collapsed.  They look terrible. Most of the  agave plant armblades collapsed backwards to the ground and they seem to be broken and some of them are starting to turn yellow.I was wondering if I should just uproot the plants or just cut/saw the damaged agave armblades or will I be doing more damage to the plant and it will die completly?  I am hoping that if I just cut the damaged armblades the plant will continue to thrive.  I am also thinking that if I cut the armblades they might return to their former glory?  What shall I do?  Sorry I don't have a picture to send.

Thank You.
Roberto Martinez

Answer
Dear Roberto,

If the center of each plant has new growth or undamaged growth I would just wait till the damaged leaves dry up and then pull them off, less chance for disease to enter the plant that way. I don't think you need to uproot the plants if you have healthy center growth.

If you do see rot on the dead leaves then you need to remove them at the base and make sure all the rot is gone, then dust with fungicide.

They may look terrible right now but I'd wait awhile before you do anything drastic (unless there is rot).  The plants will renew themselves and drop those leaves.  They will be smaller, but in your climate should do well again and those leaves will dry up fast.

Good luck!

maureen