How to prune agave stricta

Any time of year, as needed. Use long-handled shears or a sterile knife to remove dead leaves at their base. For pup removal, expose the connecting rhizome and sever cleanly, then allow the cut to callous for a day before potting.

Rarely — minimal cosmetic tidying only. Agave stricta, the hedgehog agave, forms a dense globular rosette of narrow, rigid leaves and needs virtually no pruning. Remove brown, dead outer leaves at the base only when they detract from appearance. Wear puncture-resistant gloves — leaf tips are needle-sharp. Pups can be detached when well established.

Use long-handled shears or a sterile knife to remove dead leaves at their base. For pup removal, expose the connecting rhizome and sever cleanly, then allow the cut to callous for a day before potting.