How Do You Care For Agave Bovicornuta?

What Is Agave Bovicornuta?

Agave Bovicornuta is a plant in the genus Agave, native to mountainous regions in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sonora and Sinaloa.

Both the common name and the specific epithet, Cowhorn Agave, allude to the conspicuous red spines that may be seen around the margins of the leaves. Other common names for this plant include “green Lechuguilla.”

The plant produces a single rosette and does not produce any suckers. Flowers with a yellowish-green hue are borne on stalks that can reach a height of up to 150 centimeters.

The Tarahumara peoples, who inhabit the area where the plant is located, will occasionally consume the leaves of the plant, despite the fact that they regard it as being of lower quality than other species.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, it is considered to be in a vulnerable status (IUCN).

In spite of the fact that it covers such a large area, its populations are dispersed and scattered, making them extremely susceptible to overexploitation for the food industry.

How Do You Care For Agave Bovicornuta?

The Agave Bovicornuta, because of its compact size and its low water use and low maintenance, is considered a good landscaping plant for desert residential landscaping.

This plant does not produce suckers, therefore once it has finished flowering, it will need to be replaced.

In order to grow, Agave Bovicornuta need the following:

Soils Requirements

Agave Bovicornuta thrives in soil that is very well-drained, sandy or gravely, but like the majority of its species, it is not picky about the type of soil it is in as long as it has adequate drainage.

This agave may be planted as a landscape plant anywhere in the world that does not experience frost as long as the soil does not become waterlogged during the winter.

Fertilization Requirements

They develop rapidly if they are properly maintained with a slow-release fertilizer that was designed particularly for cacti and succulents.

This type of fertilizer is low in nitrogen and has all of the essential micronutrients and trace elements. It is recommended that the fertilizer be administered once or twice each year.

Water Requirements

Agave Bovicornuta is robust and resistant to drought, much like the majority of succulents. Even after being ignored for some time, it is still able to thrive.

This eliminates a significant burden for folks who are constantly on the go and don’t have much time to devote to caring for their plants.

The Cowhorn agave is an extremely drought-resistant plant. It thrives best on soil that has good drainage and is mainly devoid of moisture.

During the summer, you should only water your plants once per week or once every two weeks.

During the winter, you should only water your plants once every two to three weeks. Before I water the plants, I make sure the earth has completely dried up first.

Hardiness Requirements

When temperatures drop to -3 or -4 degrees Celsius overnight for a lengthy period of time, outdoor-grown Agave Bovicornuta requires some frost protection.

When temperatures drop to -6 or -7 degrees Celsius, however, the plant must be placed in a container and brought indoors.

Sunlight Requirements

The Agave Bovicornuta is a succulent, thus it thrives in bright sunlight. I brought mine inside and put it in a location that gets full sunlight for around half of each day.

It will remain in the bright spot for the remainder of the day. It has come to my attention that the Cow horn agave does not thrive in dimly lit locations, as seen by the drab appearance of its leaves.

If you are going to plant outside, you should opt for a sunny spot. Additionally, the Agave Bovicornuta may survive in situations that get filtered bright light as well as partial sun.

Humidity Requirements

Agave Dry, hot conditions are ideal for the growth of Bovicornuta. Therefore, the humidity level must be low. It does not appreciate a moist or wet climate.

An excessive amount of humidity may cause illnesses to infect the leaves and will foster the growth of bacteria, mold, and other pathogens that are harmful to the plant.

Temperature Requirements

A succulent that thrives in warm temperatures, Agave Bovicornuta prefers certain conditions. The optimal temperature range is between 65- and 75-degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 24 degrees Celsius).

In the event that it becomes essential, it is able to withstand greater temperatures for longer periods of time.

After that, you may bring it indoors or transfer it to a greenhouse with a milder climate during the winter months.

The temperature must remain above 27 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 degrees Celsius) for the plant to thrive.

How Big Do Agave Bovicornuta Get?

Agave Bovicornuta, often known as Cow Horn Agave, is a species of ornamental Agave that grows solitary and can range in size from tiny to larger.

It may reach a height of up to 90 centimeters and a width of up to 1.5 meters, and it has an open rosette of leaves that can be up to 76 centimeters long and up to 16.5 centimeters broad.

The leaves range in color from yellow-green to medium-green and are widest in the centre.

The leaf blades have an appealing edging that consists of huge, reddish, dark brown teeth on enormous teats.

Some of these teeth curve back towards the base of the leaf, while others curve towards the leaf tip, which has a short, strong terminal spine.

Impressions (crenulated bud imprints) created by the edges of other leaves as they emerge from the center of development may be found on the broadleaf surfaces, and the newly emerged leaves have an appealing satin sheen.

Does Agave Bovicornuta Flowers?

At maturity, which typically takes at least 12 years, the growing tip of the plant develops into a sturdy flower stalk that may reach heights of up to 13 to 23 feet (approximately 4 to 7 meters), and it has side branches that hold compact clusters of greenish-yellow flowers.

The blooms are held erect and have a tubular green bottom section that is topped by a larger cup produced by the 6 tepals (the term “tepals” is used in place of “petals” for plants that do not have distinct sepals and petals).

The tepals are yellow in color, and the tips of the tepals may have a very small hint of a reddish-purple color.

When the plant begins to flower and reaches the end of its life span, the leaf edges begin to fold together like taco shells, and sometimes they color up dramatically with flushes of red and yellow, although not all plants do this.

As the plant reaches the end of its life span, the leaf edges fold together like taco shells.

Is Agave Bovicornuta Easy To Care For?

Agave Bovicornuta is one of the easiest succulents to care for. It does not require a lot of attention, thriving in widely varying conditions.

It is hardy, drought-tolerant and can survive neglect. It has been known to thrive in environments such as those found in an office building with leaky air conditioners or a windowless dorm room where all the windows have been sealed shut.

The optimal environments are warm and bright but not overly hot and there shouldn’t be very much humidity.

After the cold winter months, the plant may be kept outdoors but it is usually better to transfer it indoors for the winter.

Because the Agave Bovicornuta is a succulent from arid or dry regions of Mexico and may require protection from frost.

It thrives best in sandy, well-drained soil that is neither too wet nor too dry.

How Do You Propagate Agave Bovicornuta?

Through the use of seeds or small-scale propagation (tissue culture). Plants that are used in landscaping often only survive for one generation since they do not naturally develop suckers or bulbils on the flower stem, and they also require cross pollination in order to produce seeds.

The Agave Bovicornuta may be grown from seed in order to spread its species.

Instructions on how to start new Agave Bovicornuta plants;

• If a plant has reached maturity, been pollinated, and produced flowers, you will be able to collect seeds from that plant OR You may also get them from the nursery in your area.
• Start planting your seeds in the early spring.
• Create a mixture consisting of fifty percent standard potting soil, twenty-five percent coarse sand, and twenty-five percent broken lava rocks or clay granulate.
• Place the seeds in a seed tray, but do not pack the soil down; instead, let it stay loose.
• Space the seeds out at a distance of half an inch (12 mm) each.
• Cover the top with a layer of coarse sand that is one quarter of an inch (6 mm) thick.
• Maintain a moist but not drenching wet environment and the first seeds will begin to germinate in one week
• Use only a small amount of fertilizer. Let the soil become dry at regular intervals. Let the plant mature for approximately a month before transplanting it in an indoor container or outdoor garden.

Is Agave Bovicornuta safe with children?

It would probably be a good idea to keep this plant out of the reach of children. It is a cactus-like plant, but it may still have some severe edges that may be sharp enough to hurt a curious child.

Along the margins of the plant’s leaves are sharp spines that give the plant its name. Unless you put it on a shelf that is too high for tiny kids to access, it is not the best option for children of that age.

Other than that, this plant is not safe for children. It is low-maintenance and a very hardy plant that can survive outside in the summer months.