Thursday, January 14, 2010

Agave Edema

Sounds like a new type of Agave right? It’s not; it’s actually a physiological condition. I’ll explain more in a minute. First how I came to learn of Agave edema, on the San Marcos Growers website

I’ve raved about the San Marcos Growers website many times, as well as gushed about my visit to the nursery. Their website is so packed full of useful information that I am always discovering something new, for example their Agave Page. Wow! So much Agave info all in one spot! I still haven’t managed to read it all but I am enjoying working my way through it.

It’s on this page that I learned about Agave edema. One of their pictures (below, borrowed from the San Marcos Growers website, followed by a picture of my Agave montana) caught my eye. The yellow/brown area on this agave leaf looks very similar to the patterns that have developed on my Agave montana ‘Baccarat.’
I’ve been upset about these splotches and fairly confident their existence was somehow tied to the fact I was unable to get to the garden and uncover this agave when our cold snap was over. This same plant weathered similar freezing weather last year with no problem; the only difference being I was able-bodied then and gave it plenty of attention (covers off and on as the weather dictated). This year it remained covered for a week and a half.
Edema occurs when the roots of the plant are absorbing moisture from the soil but the leaves stomata are closed (due to the weather conditions and the plant being covered reducing photosynthesis) and the plant is unable to transpire at the normal rate. The internal water pressure builds up to the point that the bottom of the leaf surface ruptures and creates “water-soaked blisters” these lesions then turn into the yellow/brown “scab-like” areas.
From the San Marcos folks…”We likely compounded the situation by covering our crops of Agave 'Joe Hoak' with frost protection cloth (Agryl fabric) the nights after the rain because of frosts warning associated with the tail end of the storm. This would have trapped moisture around the plants and also limited transpiration the following day when the plants were left covered.” (San Marcos)

Santa Barbara's Pest Control Advisor Robert Muraoka wrote an article on this phenomenon… “The symptoms begin as small water soaked blisters which continue to swell, burst, collapse and then turn tan or brown in color. This is not a fatal disease but the damage is unsightly. Although the blemishes on the leaves are permanent, new foliage will be free of the disease, unless the same environmental conditions that caused the disorder are repeated.”
And he continues…“Because this is a physiological disorder no action needs to be taken. It will simply be a matter of time before the damaged foliage is replaced by new foliage. The temptation to remove the damaged leaves should be resisted for two reasons 1) The damaged leaves are still functional and will assist in a speedier recovery and 2) Cutting off the damaged leaves may cause the plant to look unnatural, and possibly even more unsightly than if the damaged foliage remained.”

Even though it looks pretty bad my agave is not mushy; all the leaves and the center “cone” are quite solid. I am going to try to take Mr. Muraoka’s advice and leave it alone hoping that it pulls through. Patience!

6 comments:

  1. Oh Dear:
    Short of bringing in a specialist, do try and make sure this beauty pulls through. I might be tempted to grow Parry in a pot whenever and wherever I find him! Fingers are crossed for you!

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  2. Hi Loree~~ Plants can be so frustrating, but a learning experience too. I won't be posting photos of my Phormiums anytime soon.

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  3. Interesting, Loree. I hadn't heard of this before. Thanks for the info.

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  4. Having had actual edema once, I feel for your poor little agave! Although luckily I didn't get black blotches on my skin, that would have been too much. I think we do tend to hack off pieces of plants that look bad, but it's good to know that sometimes that's not the right course, since it may even make things worse. Think of your little guy as having temporary tattoos or a kind of off dye job, maybe? Hope it pulls through and rewards your info-gathering and patience!! Saw some outdoor agaves today that looked just fine despite the freezes, tucked into a rock wall, and thought of you!

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  5. Mystery solved. Good news that it'll recover in time. It must be frustrating to find that your inability to garden like you normally would was a factor. Now I am also wishing a speedy recovery to this plant. Here's hoping it's fast growing.

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  6. Teza, our forecast? Rain rain rain rain rain. Can't be good. Fingers crossed!

    Grace, oh not your beautiful Phormiums!? Frustrating to say the least.

    Pam, of course! May you never have to witness it first hand.

    Karen, me too! I didn't want to gross any one out (or bore them) with more talk about my ankle but the day before I posted this I had a doc appt and she gave me my papers for starting physical therapy next week (still no walking) and there it was that word again! I have foot edema! Ha! painful, I hope yours wasn't that bad. Oh, and no ugly blotches for me either thank god! I like your temporary tattoo idea!

    Megan, it's been kind of a slow grower...but maybe we'll have another HOT summer and it will jump to it.

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