‘Mission to Mars’ is a exciting Mangave, that boasts spiky, succulent like foliage in a shade of bronze-red. Perfect for growing in coastal gardens, conservatories and tropical landscapes, this half-hardy perennial remains easy to care for all year round, whilst adding dramatic architectural structure to lifeless outdoor spaces. It will grow in height to 25cm and will spread to around 55cm. Boasting the architectural qualities of an Agave, but much faster growing, Mangave ‘Mission to Mars’ makes a striking specimen plant for a conservatory or patio pot with its bold silhouette of spiky red leaves.
Grow Mangave in a container using very free-draining soil or cactus compost. Grow in full sun outside or within a few metres of a south-facing window in a conservatory/glasshouse maintaining a temperature of 8° – 32°C (46° – 90°F). Mangave can be grown outdoors in the UK between spring and summer as a patio plant or planted in a free-draining, sunny border as perennial bedding.
Water regularly in summer but allow the compost to almost completely dry out between waterings following a ‘drenches between droughts’ regime. Feed every 2 months in the growing season with a cactus fertiliser. Keep dry in winter. Except in very mild areas they will need to be brought indoors over winter.
Repot every 3 years or so, moving up into a pot just slightly bigger than the previous one. Mangaves can be propagated very easily from offsets that form around the base.
