Butterfly agave care guide

Pets and children

How often to water Butterfly agave

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Every 7 days

A summer grower: as a guide, water deeply once the soil has dried through, in the evening in midsummer and without leaving water between the leaves.

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Every 14 days

Reduce as it cools, watering five to seven days after the soil dries, as a guide.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Every month

Keep it nearly dry, moistening lightly about once a month on a warm morning, as a guide.

Light and placement for Butterfly agave

For a tight rosette of broad leaves, keep it in outdoor sun from spring to fall, as a guide; the rather soft leaves scorch if moved out suddenly, so acclimate over a week or two and lightly shade midsummer afternoon sun.

Overwintering Butterfly agave

Overwintering guide: 3°C (37°F) or above

One of the less hardy agaves: even kept dry, about 3°C is the usual limit and frost damages the leaves, so as a guide move it to a sunny window once nights reach 5–8°C.

Fertilizing and repotting Butterfly agave

Fertilizer

From May to September, a small dose of slow-release fertilizer or diluted liquid feed about monthly, as a guide; go light, as excess lengthens the leaves, and stop from late fall.

When to repot

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Common problems with Butterfly agave

• Left outdoors in winter, frost damages the leaves.
• In weak indoor light the leaves narrow and the rosette opens up.
• Put straight into spring sun, the leaves scorch.

Tips for growing Butterfly agave

• Variegated forms scorch more easily, so shade them lightly in summer.
• Detach offsets in spring and dry the cut a few days before planting.
• Turning the pot now and then keeps the rosette even.

More succulent care guides

• Campfire plantCrassula capitella
• Candelabra aloeAloe arborescens
• Century plantAgave americana
• ConophytumConophytum
• Crown of thornsEuphorbia milii
• DudleyaDudleya