Snowcopocolypse left me with some semi-frozen cactus / succulents. Looks like the middle "leaves" are green and will make it. Do I just get a saw and cut off all the dead stuff? I've been told any mushy material needs to go on other plants, but I've never done a thing to these guys since I stuck them in the ground ten years ago. Appreciate any advice....

Machete!!!!

May I add DO NOT get the sap on your skin. The sap will light you up.

WorkerBee said:

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May I add DO NOT get the sap on your skin. The sap will light you up.

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This. My neighbor just cut two of his down in shorts and a T-shirt...ended up in the emergency room. Looked like he had a poison ivy reaction from head to toe.

Is that century plant?

SanAntoneAg said:

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Is that century plant?

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Yes. My wife reminded me after I posted.

That's an agave. I used my reciprocating saw to take all gelatinous blades off. Left the center stalk that made it look like a breaching narwhal. It's starting to separate and will recover.

i cut mine down to the ground and am hoping for the best

BulletBob said:

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WorkerBee said:

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May I add DO NOT get the sap on your skin. The sap will light you up.

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This. My neighbor just cut two of his down in shorts and a T-shirt...ended up in the emergency room. Looked like he had a poison ivy reaction from head to toe.

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Yikes

WorkerBee said:

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May I add DO NOT get the sap on your skin. The sap will light you up.

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Does this apply to a whales tongue or Perry's agaves as well?

BulletBob said:

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WorkerBee said:

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May I add DO NOT get the sap on your skin. The sap will light you up.

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This. My neighbor just cut two of his down in shorts and a T-shirt...ended up in the emergency room. Looked like he had a poison ivy reaction from head to toe.

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Can't emphasize this enough. Knew a guy who took a chainsaw to his. It splattered all over him and he was in horrible shape from burns, irritation, rash, hives whatever it was absolutely tore him up.

Make tequila

If the center whorl is healthy and firm with no damaged leaves, it will come back. Just prune away all the damaged leaves around the base. If the center whorl is wrinkled and easily moved when pressed/tugged, it's gone. Dig it up and replace it.

Also regarding the sap....that's a "your mileage may vary" deal much like poison ivy. I've can mess with them all day (pruning) and be just fine, but like others have stated, some folks get absolutely nailed by the stuff. Better safe than sorry.

Rattler12 said:

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Make tequila

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Wrong agave, but funny nonetheless.

What about *****ly pear? I have some (no thorns) in my yard in SATX and they were hit hard.

Aggie Infantry said:

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What about *****ly pear? I have some (no thorns) in my yard in SATX and they were hit hard.

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Discoloration is expected with that kind of freeze but not necessarily a sign of necrosis. Feel the discolored areas and cut out any mushy parts...note, you don't have to remove the whole pad, just the areas that are mushy.....the healthy tissue around the cut will harden up much like a scab and be just fine.

Aggie Infantry said:

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What about *****ly pear? I have some (no thorns) in my yard in SATX and they were hit hard.

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I'd be careful about the "no thorns" part. If it's this variety even though there are no readily visible spines there are however miniscule small fuzzy looking spines called glochids that will irritate the squat out of you if you handle them

I'm honestly not sure what to do now. I don't like the damn plants THAT much.....

jpb1999 said:

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WorkerBee said:

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May I add DO NOT get the sap on your skin. The sap will light you up.

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Does this apply to a whales tongue or Perry's agaves as well?

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I would not risk it. I believe most Agave contain little needle like crystals called raphides. They pierce the skin and shortly thereafter the misery begins.

The jimadores (agave harvesters) would use a machete or a coa.

Can see some pics here. http://ken-tika-xihuitl.blogspot.com/2014/03/el-agave-algo-mas-que-tequila.html?m=1