Does Agave Utahensis Make a Good Houseplant?
Of course it can! But first we’ve got to define our terms: what makes a plant a good house plant? I believe it comes down to four primary characteristics.
What Makes a Good Houseplant?
Size. If a plant is too big to fit comfortably in most folks’ homes, then it’s really not a good candidate for a house plant.
Adaptability to indoor conditions. Only plants that can thrive in the kinds of temperatures and lighting conditions typically found in human households make good house plants.
Aesthetics. A plant has to look good and add to the visual appeal of a home to be considered a good house plant.
Low maintenance. Unless you’re a big plant nerd like myself, most folks are really only interested in plants that don’t require a ton of specialized care and maintenance to look their best.
Does Agave Utahensis Fit Those Criteria?
Agave utahensis is one of the smallest agaves, so it checks the size box required for a good houseplant. It’s also the most cold hardy agave and doesn’t need full blast, full sun to look awesome. In fact, young agave utahensis plants will melt in full, desert sun, so yes, utahensis is definitely adaptable to indoor conditions. And it’s a gorgeous plant, with a ton of variability from individual to individual. One agave utahensis can bring a really incredible desert vibe to an indoor space, so it clearly checks the aesthetics box. And since it’s such a small, and slow-growing plant, and doesn’t require a ton of watering, specialized care, or really even any trimming, agave utahensis is one of the lowest maintenance houseplants on the planet.
How is Agave Utahensis Different from Other Houseplants?
So yes, as I said above, agave utahensis does make a fantastic house plant, but collectors should be aware that it is a little different from most plants traditionally considered houseplants. When thinking of houseplants, most folks will think of big leaved plants that come from tropical environments, things like fancy monsteras. That’s not agave utahensis. Utahensis is a desert plant.
So the biggest difference between utahensis and non-desert houseplants is soil. While tropical plants love soil mixes full of organic material that retains moisture and provides a ton of macronutrients, agave utahensis needs a fast-draining mix with plenty of inorganic materials mixed in. A mixture of something like a third to a half store-bought cactus soil mix, blended with two-thirds to a half of an inorganic substrate like lava rocks, pumice, or perlite is perfect for agave utahensis in most climates.
The other primary difference is watering. Agave utahensis should be allowed to dry out between each watering, it doesn’t like having “wet feet.” On my YouTube channel I explained the method I use to figure out when to water my utahensis, but even simply touching the soil to make sure it’s dry will probably be fine for most growers.
Another, somewhat less important, difference is lighting. Compared to other, shade-loving house plants, utahensis loves light. And while the full, outdoor, desert sun will melt a young utahensis plant pretty quickly, indoors, it’s very unlikely you can give it too much light. So don’t be afraid to add a bit more artificial lighting than you would with some of your other plants.