Century Plant (Agave americana) is a succulent that likes very bright light or direct sun and water every three weeks. Here is everything you need to keep it healthy.
| Botanical name | Agave americana |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Maguey, American Aloe |
| Plant type | Succulent |
| Light | Very bright light or direct sun |
| Watering | Water every three weeks |
| Fertilizing | Feed about every three months in the growing season |
| Grown | Indoor or outdoor |
| Type of plant | Ornamental |
Water Century Plant every three weeks as a baseline. Treat that as a reminder to check rather than a rule to follow blindly — push a finger an inch or two into the soil and water only if it feels dry at that depth.
Expect to water more often in warm, bright, or dry conditions, and noticeably less in winter when growth slows. A pot with drainage holes matters more than the exact interval: standing water is the most common way houseplants are lost.
Century Plant prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.
If growth becomes stretched and leggy with long gaps between leaves, it is reaching for more light. Pale or bleached patches usually mean the opposite — too much direct sun.
Feed Century Plant about every three months through the growing season using a balanced liquid fertilizer at half the strength on the label. Pause over winter — an unfed plant recovers far more easily than one with fertilizer burn.
Sharp leaf tips — keep away from high-traffic areas. Let soil dry completely; very drought-tolerant.
As a starting point, water Century Plant every three weeks, then adjust to your own conditions. Check the soil first: push a finger an inch or two down and only water if it feels dry at that depth. Most Century Plant problems come from watering on a fixed schedule rather than watering when the plant actually needs it.
Century Plant prefers very bright light or direct sun. It needs as much light as you can give it, including several hours of direct sun. A south-facing windowsill or a sunny patio is ideal.
Feed Century Plant about every three months during the active growing season (roughly spring through early autumn) with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Stop feeding in winter, when growth slows and unused nutrients build up in the soil.
Century Plant can be grown indoors or outdoors. Outdoors it will usually grow faster and need watering more often; indoors it needs the brightest spot you can offer.