Agave is what? Photo and description of the plant, useful properties

Agave is what? This is a variation of succulent, which grows in arid regions, usually in the mountains. The plant feels great in Africa, Asia, Mexico and Southern Europe. Most indigenous people prefer to use this flower for medicinal purposes, since it is endowed with a disinfecting effect. Agave has bulky fleshy leaves, which are united in a large rosette near the roots.

The flower is similar to aloe, but it has wider leaves, on the edges of which there can be spines. The plant is of considerable size, so the growers plant succulent plants, usually in gardens, near the hotels. Famous for agave is the American and blue. In the apartments, for the most part, dwarf or young flowers are grown.

Outdoor cultivation

Agave is a plant that can withstand the temperature of the middle belt of Russia without problems. 20-25 ° C perfectly match the flower. As soon as the air temperature drops below 10 ° C, it is better to transfer the plant to a warm room. In severe frosts, the flower dies. If there is no possibility to grow the plant outdoors in summer, it is recommended to put the agave in fresh air. As a minimum, the airing of the agave should be systematic.

Bloom

Agave does not apply to plants, which every summer will give you joy with flowering. The plant throws out the flower once, then it dies with time, and in its place several new shoots are formed. Agave begins to bloom only for the tenth year. The size of the peduncle is from 3 to 9 m, inflorescences are small, brownish-yellow in color. Flowers bloom not immediately, but for several months. Inflorescences are similar to capsules of elongated form, accumulated in clusters. Inside there are flat seeds of dark color.

Popular types of agave: description

• American - is one of the most popular species. This is a large plant, in which rosettes in the wild can reach a three-meter diameter. Leaflets are usually greenish-blue, up to two meters long and about 25 cm wide. There are brown-red spines on the sides of the leaf. Blossoms for the tenth year. Several forms of this species are derived. Agave American yellow-threaded grows very slowly. A broad band of light yellow color is visible along the edge of the sheet. Agave American decorated is a small plant with a wide white and yellow stripe in the center of the leaf. Agave American decorated white has a white strip in the middle of the sheet.
• The funnel is small in size, rosettes about 1.5 m in diameter. The greenish-gray leaves, reduced at the base, increase towards the middle and again decrease, turning into a white spike. On the sides of the leaves you can see thorns.
• Nitosnova - compact succulent with beautiful leaves of matte-green color, along the edges of which are long white fibers, and at the end of the leaves there is a small thorn.
• The queen of Queen Victoria is one of the most interesting forms. The rosette is spherical and reaches a diameter of 40-60 cm. Leaflets greenish are decorated with oblique white stripes. The leaf looks like a triangle with an edge on the inside. The spines are seen only on the leaf plate.
• Potato-shaped - this is a decorative kind of agave, but not yet common in home floriculture. The leaf socket is approximately 25 cm. The greyish-green leaves with a waxy bluish of blue color have a shovel shape. At the tips of the leaves are dark-red color spines, which is also on the edge.
• Compressed - the most unusual kind. It has narrow leaves and dense rosettes of spherical shape. The older the plant, the more rosettes it appears.

Features of care

Once you have purchased agave, it is recommended to transplant it, since the soil from the flower shop is not suitable for the long existence of the plant. Agave should be put in a sunny place. If there is a highlight, then good, but no - uncritical. It is recommended to water the flower, feed it and not rearrange it. Agave needs time to adjust to a new place, pot and earth. In the first few weeks, the flower will take root, so it is important not to damage the roots and leaves of the plant.

Lighting

Agave room is completely unpretentious for lighting. It grows in direct sunlight, and with slight darkening. If you put the plant on the north side, then set it as the backlight of the phytolamp. In the cold season, the growth of the agave slows down. Nutrients maintain the state of the flower before the warmer season. For the winter, the agave seems to "fall asleep".

Temperature conditions

Agave is a heat-loving plant, so the room in which it grows should be well heated, then the flower will feel comfortable. Agave should be regularly ventilated and the air temperature is not lower than 10 ° C, otherwise the plant dies.

Air humidity

Agave does not need to be sprayed. And also it is not recommended to put a container with water or a humidifier next to the flower. As a rule, the apartments have dry air, suitable for the plant. If the plants are dusted with rosettes, they can be wiped with a damp cloth. After this procedure, do not forget to dry them, otherwise there will be decay and leaves.

Watering

Rare sprays alternate with nutritious top dressings. Approximately two times in seven days will be enough. As the flower growers say, it is necessary to water the agave in the winter once a month. Agave is an undemanding plant. Watering is carried out at the roots, it is not recommended from the top, since moisture will accumulate in the rosettes, rot will form.

Top dressing

During the growing season, the flower should be fed once a month. You can use fertilizers for cacti. They mostly contain a small amount of nitrogen, and it contributes to the development of rot in the leaves. If you make fertilizer more often, the nutrients will accumulate, which, in turn, will be harmful to the agave. In winter, fertilizing is not required, since the plant rests.

Landing rules

It is impossible to permanently transplant the succulent, in this operation the roots are damaged, the leaves and the plant are difficult to recover. There are three rules for transplanting a flower. Every year in spring the young plant is transplanted. An adult flower - as needed, for example, if the pot is too small. Do not fall asleep on the neck of the agave, it should be above the ground. In this position, the plant will feel great. Agave should be transplanted when it does not bloom. As a last resort, remove the flower, on its growth agave (photo above) spends most of its forces. But it's best to wait for the flower to blossom, and then later to do its transplant.

Reproduction

Propagating agave can be seeds or babies. Seeds are not the best choice, since the plant then grows very slowly. But if you chose this method, then the seeds are planted early in the spring, the maximum at the end of winter. When the children multiply, they are first separated from the main plant with a sharp knife. Then it is dried for twenty-four hours and planted in a pot. The earth must be prepared in advance. Requires a rare watering until the plant is not rooted and not accustomed to a new place.

Soil Preparation

A stony or loose soil is suitable for breeding agave at home. Where most flowers die, the agave will grow. In domestic conditions, large river sand and turf are mixed in equal amounts. Or you can buy ready-made soil in the store. In the soil add a baking powder, for example, sand or perlite. At the bottom set drainage, this is required for the passage of excess water, because of which rooted roots and leaves.

Diseases and pests

Parasites rapidly destroy the plant. As soon as you notice the first signs of defeat, then agave should be treated immediately with special mixtures. As a rule, the main pests of the plant are scabies and thrips. If they are present in a small amount, they are removed with alcohol swabs. Next, wipe the leaves with an aqueous solution of soap and garlic. This method helps with a small infection, but if there are a lot of pests, then you should apply "Aktellik" or carbofos. Agave is an indiscriminate plant capable of surviving in the middle band, despite being used to the climate of Asia and Mexico.

Agave looks like aloe. There is a huge selection of plants, since more than 50 different species of agave are known. Succulent lack of stony soil, scattered light and watering. It is necessary to monitor the temperature regime and constantly ventilate the room where the agave is growing. The plant dies very quickly because of pests, for this reason do not forget about fertilizing and processing.

Agave: useful properties

Of most plant species, ropes, ropes, twine and other coarse fabrics are produced. Waste paper is produced from the waste. Some species of succulent are bred in tropical regions to produce fiber.

From the juice of the flower stem, citric acid and forage for bees are extracted, and pulp is used for the production of soap.

From the sugary juice of the plant, which is collected before the beginning of flowering, the pulque is prepared - a traditional Mexican alcoholic beverage. And the heart of the agave is used to produce strong alcoholic beverages, such as tequila and mescal. In addition, the juice is used as a laxative and analgesic. Thanks to the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory property of agave, the plant is used for respiratory diseases.

The roots of some plant species are also used in medicine. The leaves of the American agave contain steroid saponins, which are used for the synthesis of hormonal drugs - cortisone, progesterone.

Based on agave, they produce medicines for external use, which are used for rheumatism and radiculitis, for diseases of the breast, bruises or sprains.

Indoor agave with its decorative appearance will bring to the interior unusual notes as a single plant, and in compositions.